Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 1: All the Rural Development blocks in the four districts of Jammu region including, Kathua, Udhampur, Samba and Jammu are facing severe crisis as due to non-supply of cement, many works have been stalled there for the last more than five months.
Official sources told the Excelsior that all the BDO Blocks under Rural Development Department procure material including cement, steel, crates etc from the Government agencies including SICOP, JAKFED, JK Cements, NCCF etc. For executing MGNREGA and other works, concerned ACDs lift the quota of cement in bulk as per demand projected by the BDOs, from these agencies. But for the last more than five months most of the works in the blocks falling in these districts, have been suspended.
While some of the BDOs disclosed that the supply of material to various blocks of these districts has been stopped after an order issued by the Commission/ Secretary RDD, a few Assistant Commissioners Development claimed that a huge liability worth over Rs 300 crore of SICOP, JAKFED and other agencies has been pending. They have stopped supply of material as they were demanding clearance of their money, pending for the last several years.
Sources further revealed that as per the guidelines of the MGNREGA, the concerned DDOs (Block Development Officers have to maintain the ratio of 60:40 ( Labour component: Material), but it has been observed that many BDOs have crossed the limit of 70% in terms of material component including cement, steel, tiles etc due to reason best know to them.
Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Jammu districts were found having gone far beyond the limit. In view of maintaining balance the Commissioner/ Secretary Sheetal Nanda issued orders to stop the material supply to these districts for some time. But with this restriction, many works being executed in various blocks of these four districts have been suspended and the general public is the biggest sufferer while the concerned officers who failed to maintain this ratio and created violation were left to go scot free.
Giving more information, the sources in the department revealed that with the supply of material including tiles, tree guards, steel etc. the officers concerned manage good commission while from labour component they are unable to siphon out handsome money. Due to this reason, they prefer to spend much money on material and with this approach of the RDD officials at the helm of affairs this ratio has been imbalanced. It said that this restriction was imposed in March and is going on since then but in many districts , like Kathua and Samba the supply has been affected since January this year. With this the RDD works on several projects have been suspended.
Director, Rural Development Jammu, Mumtaz Choudhary, when contacted said that since he has taken over recently, he had no much knowledge about it. He, however, said that there is liability worth tens of crores towards SICOP, JAKFED and others agencies from where RDD procures cement/ steel supplies.
“They have written letters to us to clear the liability as early as possible because they have to procure material from various quarters. It is their compulsion as well. It is true that many blocks and districts have projected their demand with us. As and when the funds are received, the same will be provided to these agencies for procuring material and with this the supply will also become normal shortly,” the Director said.
Replying to yet another question with regard to labour liability worth crores of MGNREGA works pending in various districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban Udhampur, Kathua etc, Director RDD said as the money is being received from the Centre, the liability is being cleared gradually. He said at present, the liabilities of 2016-17 are being cleared and thereafter, the liability of 2017-18 will also be cleared. ” It is on going process and department is making payments online directly into the accounts of beneficiaries,’ Mumtaz maintained.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel