Implementing agency fails to expend full first instalment of MoT Scheme
Release of remaining Rs 78 cr depends on UCs’ submission
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 26: Though over two years have lapsed since the sanctioning of the project by the Union Tourism Ministry under Swadesh Darshan Scheme yet integrated development of tourist facilities at Mantalai and Patnitop has yet not picked up the momentum.
Even full first instalment of Rs 19.58 crore has not been utilized by the implementing agency so far although release of remaining Rs 78 crore is linked to the timely submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) to the Ministry of Tourism.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a project for integrated development of tourist facilities at Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop was sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme by the Union Government in the month of September 2016 with the approved cost of Rs 97.82 crore.
Subsequently, in the same month administrative and financial sanction was accorded to the project and first instalment of Rs 19.58 crore was released to the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) in September 2017.
However, work on different components of the project has yet not picked up the required momentum due to lack of cooperation between the NPCC and concerned authorities of the State Government, which is evident from the fact that procedural formalities including handing over of land to the NPCC was completed only in the recent past, sources informed.
Against first instalment of Rs 19.58 crore, the project implementing agency has registered expenditure of Rs 15.17 crore till date and it would be only after submission of Utilization Certificates of full first instalment that Union Ministry of Tourism will release subsequent instalments of remaining nearly Rs 78 crore for which no time-frame can be specified in view of dilly-dallying work, sources said.
As per the status report filed by the Tourism Department in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Advocate Sumit Nayyar Versus Union of India and Others, only an amount of Rs 2.82 crore has been spent on construction of Yoga Centre at Mantalai till date.
As far as component of Wellness Spa and Ayurveda Complex with separate area for traditional Indian Spa therapies with library and archiving centre is concerned, only excavation work has been completed at a cost of Rs 54 lakh.
On Tourist Facilitation Centre and other facilities at Mantalai, expenditure of Rs 1.35 crore in the shape of excavation, columns and shear wall up to ground floor slab level has been made so far. Similarly, an expenditure of Rs 3.74 crore has been made on raising of basic structure for eco log huts while as orders have been placed for other material.
For eco parks and meditation enclave in the apple orchard, only plan has been prepared and approved. Likewise, for heliport with security fencing, ambulance shed, fire tender shed and helicopter shelter, excavation work was started only in the recent past, the report said.
Similarly, only excavation work has been started for the components of open air amphitheatre, parking area with gender based toilets and rain water harvesting and associated works. As far as sewage treatment plant and water purification plant for solid and organic waste management with associated infrastructure are concerned, only vendors have been finalized till date.
As per the report, no progress has been made on 100 KW solar power plant, solar lighting and battery operated carts etc components at Mantalai. Though tourist cafeteria has been completed at Sudhmahadev yet the same has not been taken over by the Tourism Department till date.
About convention centre and allied works at Patnitop, the report said that work was suspended in August 2017 due to interference of the Forest Department. “Presently, the executing agency is sitting idle and the work will begin only after clearance from the Forest Department”, the report added. However, no time-frame has been specified for the much-needed clearance.
“All this clearly indicates that integrated development of tourist facilities at Mantalai and Patnitop has yet not gained momentum and if the work on all the components is not geared up as early as possible there are remote chances of Government meeting the deadlines conveyed to the High Court”, sources said.
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