Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 21: Concer-ned over squeezed funding under Border Area Develop-ment Programme (BADP) during the past two years, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAH-DC) Leh is going to seek enhanced allocation for creation of infrastructure in the villages along India-Pakistan and India-China border during current year’s annual plan. Moreover, stress is being laid on providing one-time special assistance so as to ensure completion of those works which were taken up under the Centrally sponsored scheme but remain unfinished for want of sufficient funds.
According to the official data available with EXCELSIOR, during 2014-15 financial year, an amount of Rs 13.28 crore was sanctioned for creation of infrastructure in various sectors in the villages along Indo-Pak and Indo-China border in the Leh district under Border Area Development Programme. However, the actual release was to the tune of Rs 11.95 crore only.
Out of Rs 13.28 crore, an amount of Rs 4.10 crore was sanctioned for creation of infrastructure in villages along Indo-Pakistan border and Rs 9.18 crore for Indo-China border. Out of Rs 4.10 crore meant for Indo-Pak border, an amount of Rs 82 lakh was approved for Khaltsi and Rs 3.28 crore for Nobra blocks. Similarly, out of Rs 9.18 crore sanctioned for Indo-China border, an amount of Rs 5.36 crore was approved for Nyoma Block and Rs 3.82 crore for Durbuk Block.
These funds were meant for creation of infrastructure in the villages falling in the radius of 0 to 25 kilometer from the border in Education, Rural Development, Agriculture, Roads and Bridges, Irrigation, Public Health Engineering and Power sectors etc.
However, during the financial year 2015-16, which concluded on March 31, 2016, the annual allocation under the Border Area Development Programme was squeezed to Rs 12.37 crore as against Rs 13.28 crore during 2014-15 financial year because of unknown reasons.
Out of Rs 12.37 crore, Rs 3.89 crore was earmarked for villages along Indo-Pak border and Rs 8.48 crore for Indo-China border. As far as Indo-Pak border is concerned, Rs 82 lakh was sanctioned for Khaltsi block and Rs 3.06 crore for Nobra block. For Indo-China border, an amount of Rs 4.99 crore was earmarked for Nyoma block and Rs 3.84 crore for Durbuk block.
Stating that Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh is not satisfied with the allocation under BADP, sources said, “the Council as well as District Administration are anguished over non-approval of BADP plans in totality by the Border Management Division of Ministry of Home Affairs”, adding “the BADP plans approved by the MHA during past two years were less than those submitted by the District Administration in consultation with the Hill Council”.
“The people residing in villages in 25 kilometers radius from the border are repeatedly requesting the District Administration and elected Councilors for giving necessary impetus to the developmental activities so that infrastructure on this side of border matches the same across the border particularly in the territory under Chinese control”, sources said.
They disclosed that LAHDC Leh and District Administration are going to seek enhanced allocation under BADP for gearing up developmental activities in the villages along Indo-Pak and Indo-China border. “In the BADP Plan for the current financial year to be submitted during the first week of next month, the Hill Council is likely to project requirement of Rs 16-17 crore”, sources informed.
Besides enhanced allocation under BADP, the Hill Council is also going to project the necessity of granting special financial assistance so as to ensure that unfinished works are completed to provide benefit of such works to the people. “The minimum requirement in this regard is around Rs 15 crore”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that some years back, the BADP funds were utilized in villages beyond 25 kilometer radius in violation of the laid down guidelines. However, following strict adherence to the BADP guidelines by the respective Deputy Commissioners, no more funds were spent on these works as such they remained incomplete till date.
“No doubt the guidelines were flouted for carrying out works beyond 25 kilometer radius but the entire expenditure would remain unfruitful till additional funds are granted to complete such developmental works”, sources said, adding “while submitting annual BADP Plan, the district administration would also lay required emphasis on release of special financial assistance as one time exception”.
The Hill Council has pinned hope on Narendra Modi-led Government for enhancement in the allocation under BADP so that villages along the borders in Leh district have infrastructure matching with the same on other side of the border.
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