*Special proposal moved for flood affected people
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 31: Jammu and Kashmir Government has moved a special proposal seeking one time relief to the poor families affected by the floods and landslides for construction of dwelling units under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY). Under this proposal, assistance has been sought for construction of over 12,000 additional houses from the Union Ministry of Rural Development and decision in this regard would be taken by the Empowered Committee on August 6.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in order to give practical shape to the announcement made on the floor of the Legislative Assembly by the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan, the State Government has moved a special proposal for sanction of 12,146 additional houses in 18 districts of Jammu and Kashmir affected due to flood and landslides.
“The proposal is for construction of 3821 fully damaged houses and for up-gradation of 8325 partially damaged houses”, sources disclosed, adding “the lists of IAY beneficiaries have been prepared by the Rural Development Department of the State Government through Panchayati Raj Institutions and duly approved by the Gram Sabhas”.
These lists have been verified through a committee at district level so that only deserving people receive the assistance for construction of houses under IAY scheme after sanctioning of special proposal by the Union Ministry, sources said, adding the proposal for special projects for construction of additional houses would be considered by the Empowered Committee of the Union Ministry in its meeting scheduled to be held on August 6 under the chairmanship of Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development.
According to the sources, in the first instance, the Committee may consider sanction of 3821 houses for the rural BPL households whose houses have been fully damaged so that they get proper shelter before the onset of winter. The total cost of these houses would be Rs 28.66 crore and the Central share at the rate of 50% would be Rs 14.33 crore plus an amount of Rs 0.57 crore as 4% administrative cost totaling Rs 14.90 crore.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Indira Awaas Yojana guidelines, 5% of the total allocation under the scheme is kept for sanction of special projects. The total allocation with the Union Ministry under IAY for the current financial year is Rs 10,025 crore and Rs 501 crore can be utilized for sanction of special projects. “Thus, funds are available to meet the expenditure and there is all possibility of Union Ministry clearing the special proposal of the J&K”, sources said.
However, the districts of Jammu and Rajouri may not get any sort of assistance from the Union Ministry under IAY as the General Financial Rules state that no funds can be released to the districts unless the Utilization Certificates (UCs) for the funds released earlier are received.
According to the sources, an amount of Rs 169 lakh was released to Jammu district during the year 2010-11 as second installment for implementation of a special project for border area in Akhnoor block. Similarly, Rs 223 lakh was released to Rajouri district during 2010-11 as second installment for the special project for border area.
But, the Utilization Certificates for these funds have not yet been received by the Union Ministry from the concerned authorities of the State Government, sources informed, adding “keeping this in view, the Union Ministry may not release funds to Jammu and Rajouri districts till the receipt of Utilization Certificates for the funds released during 2010-11 financial year”.
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