The meeting between the Union and State Government high level officials for a review of major projects of J&K was in the offing for some time and finally it has materialized to the satisfaction of the State Government. The projects reviewed fall under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, a scheme launched by the Prime Minister in 2004. After extending the plan to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the major projects, undertaken in the State sector in the PMRP —- reviewed at the high level meeting—- included, sewerage, Mughal road, Dal, Nageen, Wullar, Surinsar and Mansar lakes, Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, power projects and other works being executed under the PMRP.
The State Government seems to have obtained two-fold boost from the outcome of review. One is that the completion period of the projects in hand, so far extended thrice, gets the fourth extension till 2015-16. Secondly, the State Government expects to receive 600 crore rupees as grant for the schemes in hand for the current financial year. The Union Government has shown its liberal approach to the needs of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The PMRP has two components viz. State sector and Central sector. The meeting was confined to PMRP works under the State sector. Majority of funds were being disbursed on construction of power projects in the State under the Central sector.
In a major boost to the projects under the PMRP, the Union Government has given nod to extension of the Re-construction Plan, launched in 2004 by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as head of UPA-I, till 2015-16. Earlier, the PMRP had been extended till 2013-14.
But notwithstanding the frugality shown by the Union Government in helping the State undertake major developmental projects under PMRP, the people of the State have some pertinent questions to ask. The first question is why is it not possible for the State Government to keep the time table for completion of projects undertaken under the scheme? During 2011-12, the State had been allocated Rs 1207 crore under the PMRP but it could utilized less than half of the amount, with the result that it was allocated Rs 700 crore only during 2012-13. However, some of the funds were withheld in the last financial year.
Projects are announced with great fanfare and their inauguration by ministers and VIPs. But at the end of the day, the State Government takes refuge behind a plethora of reasons to justify delay in bringing these prestigious projects to completion within the time frame. Take the example of sewerage project for Jammu city. In one of our editorials in recent days, we have commented on many hurdles created in smooth execution of the project in the capital city. Various departments are involved PWD, PHE, PDD, JMC and others. Lack of coordination among the actors resulted in suspension of execution of work on sewerage plan. Likewise, although the Government claims that Dal project is nearing completion, yet on the ground, pollution of lake and dumping of garbage and human excreta in its waters continues without break and the weeds grow as strong as these used to grow in recent past. The other part of Dal Project, namely rehabilitation of 17,000 families uprooted from Dal and Nageen lake areas remains unclear. The Union Government took notice of these shortcomings and other delays and the result was that part of the grant sanctioned under PMRP had to be withheld. Concern was voiced by the Union Government about non-utilization of funds during 2011-12. Inordinate delay and non-utilization of funds has also happened in other projects as well that had to be executed under State Government plan.
The redeeming factor is that the State delegation gave details on the works executed on projects, projected deadlines for their completion and new projects, which the State would be taking up during current financial year. Although the Government of India has agreed to extend the PMRP till 2015-16 and sanctioned 600 crore rupees for the completion of projects in hand during the current fiscal year, yet this should not make the State Government complacent and allow slackening of work on projects in hand. A matter of much concern to the State and the Central Governments is of power losses on account of transmission and distribution. Losses incurred by the State on transmission and distribution of power are hovering between 60 to 65 per cent though previously these ranged around 70 per cent. It is generally believed that apart from using outdated wiring and other material for transmission, the State Government has not made any substantial progress in containing pilferage of power and corrupt practices of power department staff in the field. Union Government’s liberal funding for prestigious projects in J&K State has to be met with equally generous gesture of utilizing the sanctioned funds adequately and properly on specific projects and within time frame. That will be the vindication of Prime Minister’s deep interest in the progress of J&K State.
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