Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 1: Proper planning is vital for every developmental work in order to provide benefit to the intended population but this aspect was completely ignored in case of 19 irrigation schemes whose fate is hanging in balance despite an expenditure of over Rs 40 crore. Instead of targeted populace, the contractors, who were engaged for the execution of these schemes remained the beneficiaries.
This has come to the fore during the audit of schemes completed by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) of the Union Government.
During audit in 10-test checked divisions, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India came to know that out of 224 Minor Irrigation schemes under execution from 2009 to 2014, 103 schemes were reported as completed ending March 2014.
However, of these reportedly completed schemes audit observed that 12 schemes in six divisions were either incomplete or non-functional as on March 2014 despite incurring an expenditure of Rs 13.18 crore.
Further, against the ultimate irrigation potential of 2085 hectares in respect of these 12 schemes, the irrigation potential created was 258 hectares out of which irrigation potential of only 83 hectares was utilized as of March 2013 thereby rendering the expenditure of Rs 13.18 crore mostly unfruitful, the CAG said in its report.
Out of these 12 schemes, seven in the Irrigation Divisions of Jammu, Akhnoor, Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Doda and Anantnag were found incomplete despite an expenditure of Rs 11.15 crore. These schemes taken up several years back were scheduled for completion in 2010-11 and 2012-13 but due to lack of planning their fate remained hanging in balance.
Majority of these schemes remained incomplete due to land disputes and non-acquisition of land while as others could not be completed because of topographical problems, which could have been avoided had there been focus on planning aspect before execution of the work.
Five schemes-four in Irrigation Division Akhnoor and one in Doda remained non-functional because of non-availability of staff, the CAG said, adding “operation clearance was not sought from the Mechanical Wing of the department”.
During the audit, it also came to the fore that of the 121 ongoing schemes taken up between 2006-07 and 2013-14 at a cost of Rs 551.04 crore, seven schemes of Akhnoor, Rajouri, Bhaderwah and Anantnag Irrigation Divisions could not be completed due to reasons like non-acquisition of land, land dispute and change of design etc despite incurring Rs 28.10 crore on their execution as of March 2014.
“Due to this, the benefit of Rs 28.10 crore could not reach the intended population”, the CAG has remarked in the report. Only the contractors, who were engaged for the execution of these schemes remained the real beneficiaries.
For economic viability of an irrigation scheme, the Cost Benefit Ratio of a scheme should be more than ‘one’ as envisaged in AIBP guidelines. In order to ensure that a scheme has actually come up to the desired level of creation and utilization of Irrigation Potential, it is essential to work out Cost Benefit Ratio on actual after completion of a scheme.
Audit scrutiny of 39 completed schemes of 10 test-checked divisions showed that in 18 schemes of eight divisions completed at a cost of Rs 16.23 crore the CBR was less than one. The intensity of unfavourable Cost Benefit Ratio can be gauged from the fact that through these schemes Irrigation Potential was created for 1360 hectares but actually Irrigation Potential was utilized only for 810 hectares.
“These schemes could not provide benefit to the intended populace as the Detailed Project Reports were prepared without preliminary surveys and preliminary project proposals”, the CAG said, adding “the inadequacies in preparation of DPRs resulted in either mid-way abandonment or non-functioning of the completed schemes”.
It has laid stress on ensuring proper planning in selection of the schemes and formulation of DPRs as per programme guidelines; prioritizing completion of in-hand schemes so as to avoid time over-run and strengthening monitoring mechanism of the completed and ongoing schemes.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: The Government has extended the existing   Industrial Policy 2004 for a period of three months beyond 31st March 2015 or till the New J&K Industrial Policy-2015 is notified, whichever is earlier.
The Government order No 61-IND of 2015/ 31-03-2015 reads; “Sanction has been accorded to the extension of the Existing Industrial Policy – 2004  date 27.01.2004  for a further period of three (3) months beyond 31st March 2015 upto 30-06-2015 or till New J&K Industrial Policy-2015 is notified, whichever, is earlier.”
The Order further states “Subject to (i) above, all orders / modifications /procedures/ instructions issued by the Industries & Commerce Department from time to time for implementation in pursuance of Government order No – IND of 2004 dated 27.01.2004, shall remain in force until any further modification is issued or till the new Industrial Policy is notified by the State Government, whichever is earlier”.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1:  The Government of India today ordered posting of three senior IAS officers of Jammu and Kashmir cadre at the Centre.
Suresh Kumar, presently Director General IMPA has proceeded on Central deputation and has been posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence (MoD). He had recently been transferred as Principal Secretary, Home to DG IMPA.
Principal Secretary Planning BR Sharma was presently holding additional charge of the Home Secretary.
Umang Narula, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), has been posted as Chairman of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), New Delhi. His deputation to the Centre has also been cleared by the State Government along with Suresh Kumar.
During Narula’s tenure as the CEO, the State witnessed successful conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections last year with record turnout.
Manoj Dwivedi, Private Secretary to Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has been posted as Joint Secretary Food Processing. However, according to reliable sources, the Minister is reluctant to relieve Dwivedi.
Prior to his present posting of Private Secretary with the Union Minister, Dwivedi had held the post of Director in Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 1: The State Government today informed the Centre about the existing situation in the wake of incessant rains and the measures taken by it to deal with any eventuality.
State Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday apprised the Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth of the existing situation and measures being taken to combat any eventuality in detail through a video conference, an official spokesman said here.
“The administration is fully alert and every step is being taken to safeguard public life and property,” the Chief Secretary said.
He informed the Centre that after a brief pause it was raining again but the water level in Srinagar was gradually receding and the river was flowing below the danger mark.
However, the Met office predictions are a cause for concern and Government has geared up its men and machinery to combat any eventuality, he said.
He informed that essentials have been adequately stocked for distribution.
Meanwhile, the authorities issued an avalanche warning in the avalanche prone areas of seven districts of the Valley following fresh snowfall in the high altitude region.
Quoting a communication received from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, the official spokesman said the avalanche warning exists for next 24 hours in the avalanche prone areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.
“In view of the warning, Deputy Commissioners of these districts are requested to advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas.
“During heavy snowfall, people are advised not to occupy and temporarily evacuate those locations which are under fall line of avalanches,” the spokesman said adding the Deputy Commissioners concerned are asked to take all precautionary measures so as to avert any untoward incident.

NEW DELHI, Apr 1:
Petrol price was today cut by 49 paisa a litre, diesel by Rs 1.21 and jet fuel (ATF) by 2 per cent, but rates of non-subsidised LPG were hiked by Rs 11 per cylinder.
The reduction in petrol and diesel prices, which are effective from midnight tonight, come after two consecutive increases during February and March.
Prices of petrol in Delhi will be Rs 60 a litre from tomorrow as against the current Rs 60.49, while diesel will cost Rs 48.50 per litre from  Rs 49.71, said Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation’s largest oil company.
Rates of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, in Delhi was cut by Rs 1,025 per kilolitre, or 2 per cent, to Rs 49,338 per kl. The reduction comes on the back of a steep 8.2 per cent hike in rates effected from March 1.
Simultaneously, the oil firms hiked the price of non-subsidised or market-priced domestic cooking gas (LPG) by Rs 11 to Rs 621 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi. This increase comes after a Rs 5 per bottle hike last month.
The reduction in auto fuel prices follows two rounds of price hikes in February and March — first by Rs 0.82 a litre in petrol and Rs 0.61 per litre in diesel on February 16 and by Rs 3.18 per litre in petrol and Rs 3.09 a litre in diesel on March 1.
Since the last price change, “the international prices of both petrol and diesel have declined. The Rupee-US Dollar exchange rate has, however, depreciated. The impact of both these factors warrants decrease in retail selling prices of both petrol and diesel”, IOC said in a statement.
Prior to these increases, petrol price had been cut 10 times since August 2014, and diesel 6 times since October 2014.
Cumulatively, petrol prices had been cut by Rs 17.11 per litre in 10 reductions since August and diesel by Rs 12.96 a litre since its deregulation in October.
The trend was also reflected in ATF prices which saw seven consecutive monthly cuts since August, the last being by 11.27 per cent (Rs 5,909.9 per kl) from February 1. On March 1 however, prices were jacked up by Rs 3,849.97 per kl.
Jet fuel constitutes over 40 per cent of an airline’s operating costs and the price increase will raise the financial burden of cash-strapped carriers.
No immediate comment was available from airlines on the impact of the price hike on passenger fares.
Prior to the two back to back increases in non-subsidised or market-priced domestic cooking gas (LPG), rates had been cut on seven occasions since August. The customers buy non-subsidised after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders at subsidised rates.
A subsidised LPG refill currently costs Rs 417 in Delhi.
State-owned fuel retailers, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) revise jet fuel and non-subsidised LPG prices on the first of every month based on average imported cost and rupee-dollar exchange rate. The same on petrol and diesel is done on a fortnightly basis.
“The movement of prices in international oil market and Rupee-USD exchange rate shall continue to be closely monitored and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes,” the IOC statement said. (PTI)