Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 4: In a major bid to empower upcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and empower existing Panchayats by holding elections to Block Development Councils (BDCs) and District Development and Planning Boards (DDPBs), the State Government has decided to study various models prevalent in the country especially that of Maharashtra and Karnataka and implement them here.
“A high level team of Ministers is expected to visit the two States (Maharashtra and Karnataka) and any other State the team deemed fit to study the powers given to Municipalities and Panchayats and models of BDCs and DDPBs shortly,’’ official sources said, adding the visit would take place after budget session of the Legislature is adjourned sine die on April 9.
The Government, according to sources, wanted to put in place the best models of ULBs and empowerment of Panchayats apart from BDCs and DDPBs in the State to decentralize the powers at grass root level and lower burden on the Ministers and the legislators.
The Maharashtra and Karnataka models of Municipalities and Panchayats have been rated as best in the country by the experts in the terms of their powers and functions extended to them by the State Government. However, the models of Tamil Nadu and Kerala could also be studied by the team as they too have been very successful in taking the powers to grass root levels.
Sources said only after the team visits the States, studies the functions and powers of Municipalities and Panchayats that the Government would proceed further in holding the elections.
The Government has already decided to hold the ULB elections after increasing number of the Municipalities and upgrading some others. However, elections to the BDCs, which were announced for November 7, 2012 and were postponed, couldn’t be held since then.
The Omar Abdullah Government had in September 2012 announced elections to the BDCs. The elections were scheduled to be held on November 7. However, on October 15, 2012, the then Government had postponed the elections when the process to hold them was midway following objections raised by veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of the State, Ghulam Nabi Azad that the BDC elections should be held after extending benefits of reservations to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. There were a total of 143 BDCs in J&K.
Once the elections were postponed, the Government took no initiative to reserve the BDCs for SC/STs and hold elections to them. The Panchayat elections in the State were held in June-July 2012 and the bodies were constituted in August-September the same year. They will complete their five years term in August-September 2017.
Sources said the BDC elections can be held to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system after the high level team of Ministers submits report on powers the Panchayats, BDCs and DDPBs would enjoy. The DDPB elections, which would be held after the BDCs are constituted, will complete three tier system of Panchayats.
However, the BDCs and DDPBs would hardly get two years tenure as existing Panchayats are due to complete their term in August-September 2017. The next Panchayat elections are due to be held before that. Tenure of DDPBs and BDCs would also come to an end along with the Panchayats as the two bodies are to be elected by the Panchayat members.
As reported, the Government could lose handsome financial aid if the ULBs and second and third tier of Panchayats were not put in place as the Government of India and the 14th Finance Commission have linked some grants to elections of these bodies. The elections to ULBs were pending for past more than five years as the Municipalities had completed their term in March 2010.

Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar, Apr 4: The back flow of flood spill channel in Srinagar in last week’s flooding, for the first time in the history, is an alarm which the lack of flood channel between Sharifabad and Narbal has given to the authorities.
The water in the flood channel was flowing in reverse direction in the first two days of initial flooding in Srinagar last week as the Hokersar has lost the flood water carrying capacity over the years by 5 times.
The existing flood channel in Srinagar built following the floods of 1903 was designed to handle about 481 cumec of water, but can now carry only about 100 cumec.
Authorities say that the back flow has taken place for the first time in the history since its construction. They say if the immediate measures are not taken the Srinagar city faces threat of September 2014 kind of flooding if it rains heavily in summer.
The water at Sharifabad where the flood channel enters the Hokersar is overflowing over the road by several feet since initial flooding and is entering Rakhe Gund Shah behind SKIMS Medical College Srinagar. Last year the water near Sharifabad entered Rakhe Gund Shah and caused much devastation to Srinagar city on Northern side.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said that they have taken this issue seriously and a meeting of the Irrigation and Flood Control and other departments is being held in next week. He said that administration will take all necessary measures to resolve the issue.
It may be mentioned here that the tussle between Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Wild Life Department over the construction of flood channel in Hokersar area led to more silitation and the flood threat.
The funds that were meant for the construction of the flood channel were diverted to Wullar Conservation project four years ago after a court case between the two departments.
Experts say that flood threat due to massive siltation of the wetland in September-2014 floods has led to increased threat in future. “If the flood channel is not constructed immediately and drudging of the wetland is not carried out, Srinagar city faces increased flood threat”, they say.
The Government over the years has failed to pursue the case of construction of flood channel through Hokersar with the National Board for Wildlife of Ministry of Environment and Forests. However, it was finally cleared in normal course and now the file is with the Central Empowered Committee of Supreme Court where it has to be pursued on priority.
A recent survey conducted by a private agency for Government after last year’s floods has shown that at places four meters of siltation taken place in Hokersar wetland.
The Hokersar wetland that was spread to over 16 square kilometers has over the decades shrunk to over 4 kilometers. A portion of it has been encroached and rest has been converted to landmass due to massive siltation caused by the flood channel.

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Apr 4: A whopping liability of Rs 768 crores has been created by various R&B Divisions by executing unauthorised works beyond budgetary allocation in the State during last five years and the process of scrutinizing such works and fix responsibility on the engineers and other officers of the Department has been initiated.
Disclosing this to the Excelsior, the Minister for Public Works (R&B) and Floriculture, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari said that after taking over the charge of this Department, he initially started working on the financial liabilities created by various Divisions of R&B department during previous regime. After collecting details from various R&B Divisions, he came to know that a whopping liability worth Rs 768 crore has been created by these Divisions in the State. The people who encouraged this mal-practice and allowed unauthorised works will have to face the consequences, the Minister maintained.
” Directions have been issued to the officers concerned to scrutinize all such cases and prepare a detailed report, fixing responsibility on the officers/ engineers, who are responsible for creating this financial mess. There may be some works of emergency nature taken up but their number and volume can not be so higher,” Mr Bukhari maintained.
When asked whether these works were initiated under political considerations by the previous regime or senior engineers for the sake of personal gains, the Minister said, “At this stage, there is need to examine the cases and get feed back from all the sources but there are reports that many works were initiated on the verbal instructions from the politicians/ legislators under the works were initiated under political considerations and personal gains. The things will be clear shortly, he added.
Giving some details, Altaf Bukhari said while the liability of Rs 460 crores has been created in Jammu region, the liability of Kashmir region amounts to Rs 308.69 crore. In road sector, the liability is worth Rs 209 crore, bridges Rs 86 crore, land acquisition Rs 71 crore whereas, the liability of State share in the NABARD sponsored schemes has been projected to the tune of Rs 137 crore.
Referring to the infamous Ganpat bridge scandal over river Chenab at Pul Doda, Mr Bukhari said that this is the cruel joke with the people of Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar. Despite so much hue and cry no one has been punished or responsibility fixed on any one for this serious lapse. The big fishes are moving freely.
Clearing his intention to deliver good to the public affectively Mr Bukhari said, ” We will not allow this to happen and sit quietly. The culprits will have to face the music. Setting aside all the norms, how a whopping amount of Rs 5 crore was advanced to a contractor for the bridge. The people want to know the fate of this bridge which is very vital for this entire belt. We have come to know that case is pending in Accountability Commission and Vigilance Organisation has already taken cognizance. We are also examining other means to initiate fresh probe through an independent agency for tightening noose around the neck of the real culprits,” the PDP Minister maintained.
For bringing transparency in transfers of engineers and accountability in the system, Mr Bukahri said he has decided to crush the old mal-practice of `brokers’ in the promotions and transfers. The `transfer industry’ will not be allowed to flourish and `old nexus’ if any within the system, will be up-rooted. A system would be devised for the transfers and every engineer would be allowed a full service tenure of three years. They can be pre-maturely transferred only on the basis of some complaints or poor performance. The concerned SEs and Chief Engineers would recommend the names and the Administrative Secretary would be fully authorised to take such decisions and issue transfers, Mr Bukhari said.
“I will keep myself out of this process and those who recommend the names will be held responsible for the performance and integrity of such engineers for the task assigned to them. They are the people who know the skills and capability of the engineers for different tasks. Moreover, I will closely monitor the functioning of each R&B Division/ Sub Division through his own people within the system. No engineer will be allowed to approach him for any type of favour, related to promotion or choice transfer,” Mr Bukhari asserted.
Referring to his recent visit to Delhi and meeting with the Union Rural Development Minister, Mr Bukhari said under PMGSY Phase X, the Centre has released Rs 1500 crores. He said that there is special need to pay more attention towards the PMGSY roads as he has received innumerable complaints regarding abandoning of many such roads by the contractors on different grounds. He disclosed that the sanction cost of PMGSY roads in the State is Rs 5485 crores and Rs 3000 crores stand spent till now. The length of these roads is 10506 kms and 5984 kms length has been completed. He disclosed that R&B was looking after and maintaining 18,368 kms road length during 2007-08 and at present it is manning 31,921 kms roads length in the State. The length of R&B and PMGSY roads in Jammu region is 12,634 kms, Kashmir 14689, Kargil 1959 kms and Leh district 2639 kms. Bukhari said during last September floods and rains, massive damage was caused to the roads and bridges and special funds are needed to restore this infrastructure.
Expressing his Government’s resolve to make Mughal Road all weather connectivity, the R&B Minister said that he has taken up the matter with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to declare this road as National Highway and sanction a Tunnel from Chattapani (Poonch side) to Zaznar ( Shopian side), across Pir Panjal near Pir Ki Gali. The work related to feasibility study for the tunnel has been taken up and preliminary project report is being prepared by the private consultancy. The tunnel will reduce the distance of 17 kms and with this the Mughal road will remain functional even during the winters, he added.
When asked about worst condition of roads in Jammu and Srinagar cities besides other areas due to recent rains and floods, the Minister said during September 2015 floods in Srinagar, the condition of city roads has turned worst but recent rains have also damaged many roads and the Government is well aware of this issue. Special funds are needed for the repair and maintenance of the damaged roads and the issue was also discussed with the Chief Minister. The repair work would be launched as the weather improves, Mr Bukhari said.

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Apr 4: When it comes to comforts of the Very Important Persons (VIPs), the official machinery in Jammu and Kashmir does not mind to ignore the laid down procedure, which otherwise remains a tool at the hands of bureaucrats for delaying routine works.
This can be gauged from the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which has brought to the fore procurement of Agusta A-109E Power Helicopter in the non-transparent manner by the Civil Aviation Department of Jammu and Kashmir.
For the movement of Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the State, the Civil Aviation Department of State Government floated a proposal to acquire a twin-engine helicopter. For this, the Government constituted a high-level committee, which decided that the Director Civil Aviation would evaluate all the available makes in the desired category and thereafter invite specific offers from such of the companies as would be shortlisted.
According to the CAG, Director Civil Aviation Department got an in-house study conducted by a team of Pilots and Engineers, which shortlisted three helicopters—Eurocopter EC-135, Agusta 109 Power (AP) and MD 900 Explorer.
The Committee after evaluation of the offers received from two firms-EC and AP, recommended purchase of AP stating that it was technically best suited for local conditions, cheaper than EC, offered spares worth Rs one crore and a warranty of three years against warranty of two years offered by EC.
The Government accepted the proposal and accorded sanction for the purchase of AP helicopter at a cost of Rs 20 crore and accordingly Civil Aviation Department carried out the purchase of helicopter.
However, the CAG has pointed out that no formal Notice Inviting Tenders or Request for Proposals was issued either on open/global tender basis or even to three shortlisted venders on limited tendering basis. “In the absence of such a process, firm quotes (preferably in two parts-technical bids and financial bids) based on pre-designed buyer requirements and specifications were not obtained”, the report said, adding “the comparative evaluation was done in the absence of firm and formal technical/price bids with reference to informal offers obtained at different points of time and not brought to common basis of evaluation through pre-defined parameters like post sale support, cost of maintenance for a pre-defined period and essential and desirable attributes.
“In the absence of competitive tendering (global or limited), the reasonableness of negotiated price could not be vouched”, the CAG said, adding “although it was known that Rajasthan Government had procured the same helicopter and Government was indeed approached for details but their response was not kept in the record of the deal”.
In March 2014, the CAG referred the matter to the Government and Commissioner Civil Aviation Department stated that the committee headed by Chief Secretary accepted the recommendations of the department that had carried out technical comparison. “This reply should be viewed in the light of the fact that proper tendering process was required to be followed before allotment of contract for the purchase of twin engine helicopter”, the CAG said.
Meanwhile, the CAG has brought to the fore that Estates Department has created liability of Rs 12.97 crore by not devising any mechanism to ensure recovery of water usage charges from the licensees (occupants of its accommodation).
The Estates Department is the custodian of buildings meant for providing residential accommodation to Government officers and other functionaries. At the time of allotment, a license deed is drawn between the department and the occupant Government employee mentioning that licensee will make payment of electricity and water usage charges.
However, during the audit scrutiny it came to the fore that instead of raising bills on account of water usage charges against the licensees the bills had been raised by the PHE Department against the Estates Department for bulk water supplied to buildings and premises under the control of Estates Department.
“The Estates Department had not put in place any mechanism to ensure that the water usage charges for the bulk water supplied by the PHE were actually recovered from the licensees”, the CAG said, adding “the cumulative outstanding bills raised by the PHE Department against Estates Department stood at Rs 12.97 crore”. Not only this, no demand certificates were issued by the Estates Department in favour of licensees, who had retired from services without paying the water usage charges.
In this way, the absence of any mechanism to ensure recovery of water usage charges from the licensees resulted in extending undue benefit to them and creation of liability of Rs 12.97 crore for the Estates Department. “There are bleak prospect of recovery of dues in future”, the CAG has remarked while regretting that no tenable reply was given by the concerned officers when the issue was brought to their notice.