Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) has been rendered paralyzed owing to either reduced funding for developmental projects or delayed release of funds with the result that even original investment may go down the drain. We have information through dependable sources that a large number of Centrally sponsored projects for the district of Leh are languishing for want of release of adequate funds. These have never been brought to completion though their inauguration has as usual been announced with great élan. Ladakh has not kept pace of development with other hilly areas in the country though there is provision of special assistance for the north eastern and north western hilly states.
Authorities of LAHDC have put the finger on the precise spot where the malaise lies. They say that the authorities do not take into account that for six months of the year, Ladakh remains cut off from the rest of the country. Owing to snow and bitter winter, the number of work days is drastically reduced. It is meaningless to apply the work days formula of plains of India to Ladakh. Additionally non availability of adequate labour force is another problem. Ladakh is sparsely populated. Youth both male and female are generally leaving Ladakh and seeking admission in different educational institutions of the country to pursue their education and make their career. This is because satisfactory facilities for further studies or professional studies are not available in Ladakh. So it has adverse impact on availability of labour. Therefore those who plan for the developmental projects or infrastructure for Ladakh must find a way out so that Ladakh is not driven with the same stick used for other States. During past several years more than 83 crore rupees have been invested by LAHDC on various projects all of which are lying incomplete because funds for bringing these to completion were not released or delayed. Obviously, when a project is left half way for a number of years, its utility diminishes and it becomes counter productive. One begins to think that the amount invested only half heartedly is a waste to the public exchequer. It is very unfortunate that an area which is backward in many respects and is handicapped by closure of road for six months and forced to remain isolated should not be given priority but left to negligence. Funding comes from the Centre and, of course, through the channel of the State Government. Assessment of progress is conducted by the Central team. Why are funds held up, one fails to understand? Is there communication gap between the State Government functionaries and the Central Government departments somewhere so as to create obstructions for completion of projects. Various Centrally sponsored projects under different schemes like PMRP, 13th Financial Commission, Special Task Force, NABARD, AIBP, Border Area Development Programme etc. have been successfully carried forward in various states of the country but the story of J&K is different. These are all lying incomplete. Way back in the year 2000, a sum of Rupees 1207 lakh was sanctioned by the Centre under PMRP scheme for Leh district for constructing Hill Council infrastructure. Till date it has not been completed and the reason given is that funds were not released. Twelve building under construction of R&B have not been completed despite seven long years of work on them. And for completing incomplete projects the Council needs 1656 lakh rupees said a knowledgeable source.
LAHDC has now approached the 14th Finance Commission for sanctioning one time grant to the tune of Rs 163 crore in order to complete these languishing works. We are not in a position to say whether this request of the Council will be granted or not. But of course the point is very relevant that if a huge amount of 83 crore rupees has been invested so far on various projects, should these be abandoned and left half to let the invested amount go down the drain? That is not the exact answer. The exact answer is that funds should be provided and released with a surety that the pending projects will be completed within stipulated time. But before we go on to support the request a few points need to be raised for future guidance. In the first place it should be determined why there is a break in the flow of funds for not one or two but all the centrally sponsored projects? It is important to identify the malaise where and why and then find a solution. Secondly, if there is a delaying system in place, it has to be removed at all costs. Any system that tends to delay release of funds has to be replaced by a quicker and less stereotyped management. At least in the case of Centrally sponsored schemes and funding, a new mechanism should be evolved in which there is no third party between the donor and the recipient. What does the word autonomous means? It means that it shall be entitled to receive direct funding from the Centre and the Centre will also exercise control as well as supervision on the progress of the project. This is a changed module and has to be experienced. This does not mean curtailing the authority of the State Government. More than the authority of the State Government, the development of economically weaker sections of society and region is more important and urgent to be addressed. The State Government shall have to develop resilience in dealing with the autonomous region.
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