One expects the Government to plan before actually beginning any project. What is the fun of planning if our projects, big or small, are fielded without careful planning?
How did the authorities at Destination Development Phase-II, Kishtwar decide to construct a water sports centre at Dul at a stupendous cost of 1.21 crore rupees without seeking permission from Dul Hasti Power Project authorities meaning NHPC who have created the reservoir and who are looking after its maintenance and upkeep. It appears that the entire plan was the figment of imagination of some person at the deciding circuit who fancied water games in a reservoir perhaps having heard or seen it in some western country. Was it not necessary to discuss the imaginative plan with the authorities of Dul Hasti project? Was it not necessary to have consultation with expert in the Tourist organization so as to reflect on chances of inflow of tourists for water games? Was it not necessary to work out the viability of the scheme in terms of maintenance and returns? Apparently, all these pre-requisites have been thrown to the wind and some other motives have been served. The area of Dul Hasti Power Project is restricted for public owing to the sensitivity of the project. NHPC authorities have denied having been approached by any quarter for allowing permission for water games. It is clear that ulterior motives were at work in floating the water games project, spending the money for acquisition of land and purchase of equipment but all to no avail. Where has the big money gone is a question that is being raised now. Obviously, the buck will be passed on from person to person and no body will shoulder responsibility for wanton waste of funds. A strange culture has been developing in State administration in which neither there is planning nor are funds judiciously utilized for productive results.
It has to be remembered that funds are scarcely available to the State and if the Centre provides them, it asks for a report on expenditure and achievements. In so many cases, the Centre has expressed its dismay on non execution of centrally sponsored schemes and spending. The State has to cut a sorry figure because on the ground there is no convincing achievement. It is a chaotic situation with more than one centre of power exercising its authority. Why should not the Government order a court of inquiry into the ill-conceived project like the tourist water games in the reservoir of Dul Hasti Power Project that is formally banned to public intrusion? Let the public of Kishtwar and other regions be told who is responsible for this phony project and where the money has actually gone. The State has very meager resources and each penny has to be utilized properly and purposefully. We cannot afford to squander our resources on whimsical and fanciful utopia that will not mature and is not needed.
No less disgusting is the episode of Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority which installed video games at a cost of 24 lakh rupees at Mansar tourist complex. The plea advanced was that it would enhance tourist attraction for the spot. But the infrastructure provided for these games is just lying unused. Now it is said that the apparatus are non functional and need to be repaired. It is the fourth year that the infrastructure was provided and how come that it became non-functional over night? When contacted, authorities said that repair to the infrastructure had been done and these would become functional very soon. Who will be convinced by vague and ambiguous statements about the functionality of these projects? Tourism Department seems to be part of the entire nexus that is a pack of day dreamers trying to keep the higher authorities in good humour at the cost of public exchequer. This matter should be investigated into and proper action has to be taken against the defaulters.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel