Govt fails to clear Rs 565 lakh worth liability in Leh

No heed to repeated communications from distt admn

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 17: Adopting indifferent attitude towards the Leh district, the Government has failed to clear Rs 565 lakh worth liability created due to carrying out of emergency works in roads and flood control sectors following ravaging deluge from time to time. The situation is prevailing despite repeated communications from the district administration to the Finance and Planning Departments for release of funds.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that heavy discharge in Indus River in July 2017 caused breaches at various spots as such created the requirement of flood protection bund at all the vulnerable spots so as to avoid loss to the public and Government property in future.
Accordingly, the concerned functionaries of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department identified the most vulnerable spots and stated work on the ground as waiting for funds was amounting to putting the lives of the people at risk.
At a total cost of Rs 90 lakh, flood protection works at Yarlok Chuchot Gongma, Chuchot Shama, Togar Thiksay, Chuchot Gongma, Shashi Bridge, Shey and Neptu Thiksay along the Indus River were carried out by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
Similarly, training of Nimoo nallah-I by way of channelization of 406 meter portion, restoration of irrigation khul at Beema, restoration of irrigation canal at Achinathang Yokma at head work site and restoration of irrigation canal at Achinathang Gongma at head work site were carried out at a cost of Rs 82.38 lakh.
The channelization of Nimoo nullah was done following flash floods in 2017 while as restoration of irrigation khul and canals was carried out after the same suffered extensive damages due to flash floods in 2015 and 2017.
Similarly, Roads and Buildings Department carried out restoration, protection and widening works on six roads which suffered damages during July-August 2015.
These works include protection and filling at Lardo nullah on Alchi to Gera road, restoration of link road to Domkhar Burma village, road from NHPC to Choskor Alchi, restoration and widening of Gaira to Mangue road and protection works from High School to Kongshed Hanu Yogma.
Likewise, the R&B Department executed several other works following damages in August 2016 and April 2017 but the funds to clear the liability have yet not been released, sources said.
These works were carried out on Achinathang to Lungba, Gera to Mangue link roads, on road leading to Skindyang, Rizong Gonpa road, Hemis-Chhu to Hemis Shukpachan road, Ullay road, Saspol to Sumdo road, Likir to Hemishukpachan, Nurla to Temisgam, Mangue to Zoom, Domkhari Phoo and other roads.
“As far as damages caused due to heavy rain and flood in 2015, 2016 and 2017 are concerned, restoration was undertaken but funds were released as per the guidelines of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for temporary restoration only”, sources said, adding “due to this liability to the tune of Rs 393.57 lakh got created in Roads and Buildings Sector and the same is yet to be cleared by the Government”.
It was not possible for the district administration to ignore the damages as such restoration works were carried out without waiting for the funds but the Government has failed to understand the objective behind the execution of the works, sources regretted, adding the administration has sent a number of communications to the Finance and Planning Departments for release of funds to clear the liability but no positive development has taken place till date.
When contacted, a senior officer in the Leh district administration, while wishing anonymity, confirmed that liability was still pending. “We are hopeful of early clearance of the work done liability as the issue was also brought to the notice of the Governor N N Vohra recently”, he added.

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