Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 9: Taking a leap forward in implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode in nine sectors, the Government today ordered constitution of Steering Committee with Chief Secretary BR Sharma as its chairman and Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Planning, Revenue, Law as members.
The Government has also ordered that all PPP projects will be undertaken only after obtaining approval from the Cabinet.
Official sources told the Excelsior that nine sectors in which the Government has sanctioned implementation of projects under the PPP Mode included Roads, Tourism, Housing, Urban, Sports, Technical Education, Health, Horticulture and Industries and Mining.
“The Steering Committee constituted by the Government will oversee the selection, formulation and implementation of the PPP within the laid down time lines,’’ sources said.
The Steering Committee will be headed by Chief Secretary BR Sharma as its chairman. The members of the Committee were the Administrative Secretary Planning and Development Department (who is also the Chief Secretary himself), Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, Adminis-trative Secretary, Revenue Department, Administrative Secretary, Law Department and Administrative Secretary of concerned implementing department to whom the PPP project pertains.
Sources said the projects selected for implementation under the PPP framework would require concurrence of the Finance Department and Planning and Development Department before bidding projects.
Further, all Departments would require the Cabinet approval before taking up the projects in hand under the PPP mode.
In addition to this, the Government has also sanctioned creation of PPP Cell in the Finance Department to coordinate all infrastructural projects to be undertaken under the PPP Mode.
The PPP Cell, whose members have not been announced so far, will assist, apprise and guide the line departments in undertaking the new projects.
“The PPP Cell will also help in adopting and developing model documents for different sectors and coordinate efforts of line departments for furtherance of the objectives of the new policy,’’ sources said, adding that the PPP cell will act as an Advisor or help in the transaction advisor.
The Cabinet vide its decision No. 169/13/2015 on December 2 had approved undertaking of various projects under the PPP Mode by different departments. An announcement to this effect was made by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting.
The Government believed that the PPP Mode will lead to fast track development and construction of projects in various sectors and will go long way in boosting infrastructure needs of Jammu and Kashmir. The Central Government as well as various State Governments in the country have switched over to this mode in some sectors for boosting development.
Sources said introduction of the PPP Mode would go long way to cope up with infrastructure deficit in crucial sectors, which were being taken up under this Mode.
Sources said in the housing sector, new projects will be taken up for execution under PPP mode at Rakh-e-Arth, Jawhar Nagar and Gandhi Nagar. In roads sector, the projects to be taken up under PPP mode include Sonwar-Gallandar road, Chatroo-Vailoo Tunnel, Mughal Road Tunnel and inter-district roads.
In tourism sector, the PPP projects include upgradation of infrastructure at Ranjit Sagar Dam and Doodhpathri. In sports, he said two Sports Cities, one each at Jammu and Srinagar would be setup under PPP mode besides construction of world class sports stadiums.
In health sector, PPP mode would involve setting up state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities at government hospitals. In horticulture sector, high-density plantation would be promoted through PPP mode and in technical education skill development institutions would be established under the new initiative. Commercial projects, multi-level parking facilities and solid waste management would be also covered under PPP.
Sources said the PPP is a funding and operational model for public infrastructure projects requiring large finance. The line departments would identify and have ownership of such projects. All PPP projects shall have to follow approved models and guidelines and will be implemented only after the approval of the State Cabinet.
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