JAMMU, Feb 13: Though a total of 140 coaching centres are functioning in Jammu and Srinagar cities yet only two of them are registered with the concerned authorities.
This was disclosed by Minister Incharge School Education Department in the written reply to the question of Mehbooba Mufti in the Legislative Assembly today.
“Sixty coaching centres are functioning in Jammu city and 80 in Srinagar city”, the Minister said, adding “out of 60 coaching centres in Jammu none has been registered and applications received from some of them are under process in the office of Director School Education”.
Similarly, out of 80 coaching centres in Srinagar city only two are registered and applications received from remaining 78 are being examined in the office of Director School Education, the Minister further said.
About the norms fixed for the registration of coaching centres in the State, he said, “no educational agency can establish/run a private tuition centre without the prior permission of the Government or the competent authority”, adding “the permission is granted on the registration/renewal of registration against a fee notified by the Government”.
The Minister further said, “the renewal of registration is granted only on the basis of good performance of a private tuition centre in the preceding year to be certified by the Monitoring Committee”, adding “the permission is restricted for private tuition in two shifts only—one shift half an hour before the working hours of schools and other shift half an hour after the working hours of the schools”.
About the regulation of fee, he said that tuition centres are required to maintain an admission register indicating detailed particulars of the candidates; maintain proper record of tuition fee in proper accounting books; notify and display monthly tuition fee charged from the students subject wise and class-wise 15 days before the start of such tuition/course and reserve free admission up to 10% of the total intake in each class/course for the students who happen to be destitute, orphans or belong to the families living Below Poverty Line.
As per the guidelines, the private tuition centres should be located in a noise free area, provide a minimum covered area of 9 square feet per candidate, keep a separate waiting room, toilet and separate drinking water facilities for female candidates and keep adequate heating or cooling arrangements in every classroom and waiting room according to the weather conditions.
About the teaching staff, the Minister said that every tuition centre is required to have a tutor who shall be graduate or a trained graduate for imparting tuition to primary and upper primary classes, trained graduate for imparting tuition to the secondary classes and post graduate in the relevant subject for imparting tuition to the senior secondary classes.
v Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather reached the Assembly Hall at 11.01 am. Speaker Mubarak Gul called the Finance Minister within a minute of his arrival to start the budget speech. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also entered the House simultaneously. Mr Rather shook hand with Omar before starting his budget speech at 11.05 am.
v Mr Rather concluded his budget speech at 12.52 pm. Omar stayed in the House throughout the House. This was the lengthiest speech in the recent times, which Mr Rather read in Urdu.
v This was 14th budget of Mr Rather and sixth in a row. He has also taken two Vote-on-Account. This was last budget of the present ruling dispensation as Assembly elections are due late this year.
v Mr Rather started his speech with a couplet ‘Mainay In Tund Hawaon Main Jalay Hain Chirag, Jin Hawaon Nai Palat Dhi Hain Bisatain Aksar’. He ended the speech with another couplet ‘Maqasid Nek Hon, Himmat Ho, Rastay Kaa Tawayain Ho, To Fir Dushwari-e-Manzil Bahut Aasan Hoti Hain’.
v Mr Rather said this was only the third occasion in the Legislature history when the same Government presented six budgetary proposal under the same leader of the House. The first two occasion had come under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1977, the second under Dr Farooq Abdullah in 1996 and now under present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
v Mr Rather remarked: “this is not a mere coincidence of history. It reveals much more to the discerning eye of any political observer’’. Worthwhile to mention here that Mr Rather today presented his sixth consecutive budget.
v PDP leader and former Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig today came to the House for the first time during the current session. He reached the House about 10 minutes before presentation of the budget. He was scheduled to start discussion on the budget on Sunday.
v The main Opposition party—PDP including the party leader Mehbooba Mufti listened to the budget speech for the full time. There were no disruptions during the budget. The treasury benches quite often thumped the desks during the budget speech.
v During Mr Rather’s customary press conference after the budget presentation, a reporter sought to know the details of expenditure on “renovation of Ministers’’. Mr Rather quickly remarked that expenditure is incurred not on renovation of Ministers but their bungalows.
v “You seems to be an expert on excise,’’ Mr Rather told another reporter, who wanted to know whether the liquor prices would be hiked after the budget.
v “There is no separate budget for security of the separatists,’’ he told another questioner, who wanted to get details of the budgetary amount spent on security of separatists.
JAMMU, Feb 13: Chairman Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra today allowed half an hour discussion on the issue of delay on the widening of Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri National Highway to the 4-lane specification.
The Chairman accepted the plea of several members of the Upper House, who took serious note of the delay being caused in widening and construction of Srinagar-Baramulla highway and the casual reply given by the Minister of State for Technical Education and RDD Vikar Rasool. The issue was raised by Congress member Ghulam Nabi Monga, who pointed out that the project had been delayed by 9-10 years and how much more time it will take.
The Minister while replying on behalf of Minister Incharge R&B said, “the road widening ( 4-laning) project from Parimpora to onward has been taken up by Project Beacon and the expected date of completion is 2017. So, the project is not delayed and if it is not completed by 2017, you can ask this question there after.” The reply irked the Congress members and few others in the House.
Senior member Nayeem Akhtar pointed out that Minister was replying so casually and it seems he has no knowledge about the issue. This highway is most important and life line of the people of that area. It should have been completed in three years. The work on Jammu-Udhampur section of highway is progressing so fast and it seems to be nearing completion but unfortunately on this highway long traffic jams are seen and people get trapped for hours together. Mr Monga also raised supplementaries and pressed for reason behind delay.
In response to yet another question the Minister said BEACON has proposal to construct flyover on Baramulla road near HMT crossing Shelteng. An approval in this regard from Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is awaited. Not satisfied with the reply of Minister and hearing plea from several members regarding importance of the question and casual reply by Government, the Chairman allowed 30 minute discussion on it.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Accusing the National Conference (NC)-Congress Coalition Government of following misplaced priorities, BJP National executive member and J&K chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that even as the State employees are constantly agitating for release of arrears and regular salary, it is baffling to come across reports that during the past 10 years, which include over five years of the present NC-Congress regime, an amount of Rs 310 crore has been spent on purchase of air-fleet.
What is more appalling is the revelation that, in the last three years of NC-Congress rule, an amount of Rs 12 crore has been incurred on the plane and chopper sorties to facilitate movement of dignitaries, he added.
Dr Singh took serious exception to reports that instead of being apologetic about such extravagant air-fleet expenditure despite the financial crunch, the State Government is contemplating purchase of more choppers including the sophisticated “Light Twin-Engine Helicopters” and has already shortlisted some foreign companies to go ahead with the purchase.
The BJP leader demanded a detailed paper from the Coalition Government to disclose what precisely was the nature of air sorties that took place during the last five years and how often was the State helicopter used to fly the so-called VVIPS to a tourist destination like Gulmarg or to carry them from their residential bungalows to the airport and back, and how often were the State helicopters actually used for their officially declared purpose.
Dr Jitendra observed that it is absolutely unpardonable for the Coalition Government to squander State exchequer in such lavish manner at a time when the State is so cash-starved that it has no money even to replace damaged electric poles or repair damaged roads, when people are taking to streets against power and water shortage, when over seven to eight lakh youth are jobless and when under the Govt’s misguided new employment policy, a fresh educated recruit will get at an average of mere Rs 3000 per month for first two years and Rs 5500 during next three years before getting the full salary.
v Total expenditure ` 43543 crore.
v Capital Expenditure ` 10595 crore.
v Total receipts ` 43543 crore.
v Revenue Receipts ` 39221 crore.
v Capital Receipts ` 4322 crore.
v Own Tax Revenue estimated at ` 7496 crore.
v Share of Central Taxes up at ` 5191 crore as against ` 4514 crore in Revised Estimates 2013-14.
v Central Non Plan Grant down to ` 2096 crore as against ` 2881 crore in 2013-14.
v Revenue Expenditure (RE) including Security Related Expenditure (SRE) to touch ` 32948 crore.
v Capital Expenditure accounts for ` 10595 crore.
v Non Plan Revenue Expenditure (NPRE) consumes ` 29553 crore, of which ` 3470 crore spent on interest payment.
v The Non-Plan Salaries and Pensions at ` 18445 crore constitute 62.4% of total non plan revenue expenditure.
v Non Plan Capital Expenditure (NPCE) of the order of ` 2090 crore, of which ` 1297 crore for loan repayment.
v Annual Plan size : ` 11300 crore.
v PMRP at ` 600 crore.
v Plan Revenue Expenditure (PRE) estimates at ` 3395 crore. Plan Capital Expenditure (PCE) including PMRP : ` 8505 crore.
v ` 273 crore to be devolved to PRIs under 13th Finance Commission grants.
v Earmarked provision of ` 700 crore for DA to employees and pensioners.
v ` 100 crore provision in 2014-15 for 10% Employer’s share under New Pension Scheme introduced from January, 2010.
v A provision of ` 20 crore for meeting cost of VRS/GHS in PSUs under Non-Plan.
v Starting with fiscal 2007-08, amount of ` 4 crore is being provided every year for settling outstanding of JAKFED towards JCCB crystallized at ` 80 crore, ` 4.00 crore provisioned for 2014-15 as well.
v ` 47.50 crore for clearing statutory liabilities of corporations during next year.
v Grant-in-aid (financial devolution) in respect of Local Bodies estimated to go up from ` 306 crore to ` 383 crore .
v ` 2.8 crore provisioned for Super Specialty Hospital Jammu for current year and ` 5.8 crore for next year.
v Plan provision of ` 321.40 crore proposed for Agriculture & Allied Departments including Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Floriculture and Cooperative.
v Plan provision of ` 179.74 crore for Irrigation, Flood Control & PHE Sector.
v Plan provision of ` 106.20 crore for Tourism Sector.
v Plan provision of ` 179.82 crore proposed for industries sector including Labour & Employment.
v Education and Health Sectors to receive allocations of ` 734.66 crore and ` 310.45 crore respectively under Plan.
v Proposed allocation of ` 332.34 crore for Social Welfare Sector under Plan.
v Proposed Plan Allocation for Power Sector ` 396.21 crore.
v PWD (R&B) Sector proposed to receive ` 525.28 crore under Plan.
v Housing & Urban Development Sector proposed to receive ` 423.62 crore under Plan.
v Provision of ` 484.42 crore for SSA & ` 135.30 crore for RMSA.
v Plan provision of ` 50.00 crore for Jammu, ` 25.00 crore for Leh and ` 25.00 crore for Kargil regions.
v ` 2053.51 crore allocation for District Plans.
v Provision of ` 10.00 crore for critical needs of bad pockets.
v Provision of ` 148.00 crore for Border Area Development Programme.
v Provision of ` 46.00 crore for Honorarium to Sarpanchs & Panchs.
v VSA to 50647 youth (` 22.39 crore disbursed).
v Allocation of ` 120.00 crore proposed for meeting requirements of Seed Capital Fund, Youth Start-up Loan Scheme, Women Entrepreneurs and VSA.
v Insurance Scheme for Sarpanchs/Panchs in place at premium of ` 63.44 lakh.
v Annual Plan for 2014-15 will subsume Centrally Sponsored Schemes (rationalised to 66 schemes)
v ` 20 crore provision for creation of additional 1000 Anganwadi Centers in a phased manner.
v ` 25 crore for regularisation of Rehbar-e-Zirat.
v Provision of ` 3 crore for marriage of orphan girls belonging to a BPL family.
v PSE loans and interest accrued thereon so far (more than ` 2000 crore) to be converted into grant in aid/written off.
v Plan loans to be converted into Equity on case to case basis.
v Beti Anmol benefit to be increased from ` 5000 to ` 10000 and its coverage extended to all Blocks.
v Tourism incentive package expiring on December 31, 2014 to be extended up to March, 2015.
v Increasing the Stamp Duty exemption on KCC loans from ` 1.50 lakh to ` 3 lakh, also on Artiisan Credit Cards.
v VAT remission for industry to continue for another year.
v Cashless system of VAT remission on purchases of raw material made from SICOP adopted from the next year.
v Hotel Tariff Tax exemption to continue up to March, 2015.
v VAT exemption on atta, maida, besan etc to continue upto March, 2015.
v Toll and VAT exemption on hand pump.
v VAT exemption on ‘bee wax’
v VAT exemption on ‘oil cake’
v VAT exemption on bone meal.
v Toll exemption on ‘tootee basmati export’
v Toll exemption on import of husks of pulses and bran.
v Toll exemption on weight containers.
v VAT on shawls reduced to 5%.
v Audit limit of turn over for filing of VAT Returns from ` 60 lakh to ` 100 lakh.
v Threshold of ` 7.5 lakh increased to ` 10 lakh.
v TOT limit increased to ` 25 lakh.
v ` 2 crore for pilot initiative for micro irrigation.
v War Veterans to get ` 3000 per month instead of 1500 per month; ` 2.30 crore in Budget.
v ` 1.40 crore for HIV/AIDS cases.
v ` 2 crore for the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund.
NEW DELHI, Feb 13: In a new low in India’s Parliamentary history, pepper spray was used in the Lok Sabha resulting in hospitalisation of three MPs following a ruckus over introduction of the Telangana bill after which 18 Seemandhra MPs were suspended.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar expressed anguish over the incidents saying it has “shamed the country and Parliament and called it a “blot”.
Unprecedented pandemonium broke out in the House when expelled Congress member L Rajagopal, an industrialist and opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh, brought a canister from which he sprayed pepper.
Three MPs–Vinay Kumar Pande, Ponnam Prabhakar and Balram Nai–suffered from suffocation, irritation in their eyes and heavy coughing following which they were taken to nearby Government Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment. They were later discharged.
Many other MPs were seen coming out of the House with watery eyes and were feeling suffocated. Ambulances were pressed into service.
Another anti-Telangana member Venugopal Reddy (TDP) broke the mike of the House Secretary General and a computer screen was broken in the “Well” as members from either side of the divide came to blows when Shinde stood up to introduce the bill for reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh.
Rajya Sabha also witnessed Uproarious scenes with members staging protests in the Well over Telangana statehood issue and a TDP member trying to snatch the mike of the Chair.
In the ruckus over the issue, TDP MP CM Ramesh tried to uproot the mike from the podium, the Chair adjourned the House till afternoon and finally for the day till Monday.
The Seemandhra MPs, protesting against creation of Telangana, sought to stall introduction of the bill for which Home Minister Sushil Kumar later claimed has been tabled but was disputed by BJP and other opposition parties.
The unprecedented action of the protesting MPs triggered all round denunciation with the Speaker saying “It has shamed us, shamed us. India’s Parliamentary democracy is respected throughout the world. Today what has happened is a blot.”
NDA Chairman and BJP veteran said what happened in the House was disgraceful not only for the Government but Parliament and blamed the ruling dispensation for it.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath condemned the behaviour of the MPs and said Speaker would take action.
There was also a blame game with Nath accusing BJP of changing its stand and opposing the bill while also declaring its support. “BJP has been totally exposed,” he said.
But Advani and Leaders of Opposition in both the Houses Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley accused the Government of not doing proper home work and indulging in this “drama”.
The Well of the Lok Sabha turned into a battle ground as fisticuffs broke out between members from Seemandhra and others, including Raj Babbar, Azharuddin, Lal Singh (all Cong) and Saugata Roy (TMC), who wanted to prevent disruptions in the House.
After damaging the mike, Reddy (TDP) snatched papers from the Speaker’s podium, while Rajagopal broke the glass on the table and used the pepper spray.
In the afternoon, Meira Kumar cracked the whip and suspended 18 MPs, who are against division of Andhra Pradesh, for rest of the session following the scenes of pandemonium.
Kumar announced the decision soon after the House met at 2 p.m. when she named the members.
They were suspended under Rule 374 A which says that a member can “be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session” for disregarding “the authority of the Chair or abusing the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing business.
“They may forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House,” Kumar said.
Those suspended include L Rajagopal, Venugopala Reddy, Sabbam Hari, Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, SPY Reddy, M Sreenivasulu Reddy, V Aruna Kumar, A Sai Prathap, Suresh Kumar Shetkar, KRG Reddy, Bapi Raju Kanumuri and G Sukhender Reddy (all Cong), Niramalli Sivaprasad, Nimmala Kristappa, K Narayana Rao (all TDP) and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and M Rajamohan Reddy (both YSR Cong).
It looked after the suspension of the MPs that the House could function and pave the way for consideration of the Telangana bill at a later stage but trouble continued the the House was adjourned till Monday. Rajya Sabha also was adjourned till Monday.
After the adjournment opposition parties insisted that they do not accept that the bill had been introduced because proper procedures were not followed.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj led a delegation of leaders of Samajwadi Party, CPI, BJD, TMC AIADMK to the Speaker Kumar to convey their stand.
“Government has claimed that the Bill has been introduced, but we do not accept,” Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the meeting with the Speaker.
“I was sitting in the House even after the spray incident and wanted to stay inside till I was advised by marshals to leave as it could cause harm to my health. As long as I was inside the House, not even an ‘I’ of the Bill was read. I don’t know when was the bill introduced,” she said.
Other party leaders, who accompanied Swaraj, said they do not accept the introduction of Telangana bill.
YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was the first to raise questions over the introduction of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.
He said it was a “mockery” to say that the bill has been introduced as the whole thing was over in ten seconds and there were no ‘ayes’ and ‘noes’ they would not talk to the government on the bill any more.
The high drama at noon took place soon after the House assembled after one adjournment when the Government wanted to take everybody by surprise by introducing the bill which is being strongly opposed to by members, including those belonging to Congress, from Seemandhra region.
Such is the sentiment against the bill that four Union Ministers took the unprecedented step of trooping into the Well of the House yesterday to protest the bifurcation.
Though Treasury benches had made arrangements to prevent disturbance by positioning members like Raj Babbar, Azharuddin and Lal Singh near the Well, M Venugopal Reddy (TDP) broke the mike on the Secretary General’s table.
Reddy was immediately overpowered by other members by when Rajagopal broke the glass on the Secretary General’s table. Soon after, Rajagopal sprayed the pepper spray near the podium causing commotion and coughing.
TMC veteran Saugata Roy, while feeling choked, was seen trying to control the unruly members in the Well. Soon other members started coughing uncontrollably.
Rajagopal was attacked by some members and it was hard time for the watch and ward staff to rescue him and take him to the office of the Speaker.
The smell of the spray was so strong that its impact was felt even outside the House.
Rajagopal was expelled from Congress along with five other members from the Seemandhra region only two days back for their persistent defiance on the Telangana issue and even giving notices of no-confidence against the Manmohan Singh Government. (PTI)
Army and SOG team returns after successful operation in Shopian on Thursday. -Excelsior/Sajad Dar
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Security forces today achieved a major success by killing district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and his associate in a fierce encounter in South Kashmir district of Shopian.
Deputy Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that police, 44-Rashtriya Rifles of Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in a joint operation today killed district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, Arshad Ahmad Sheikh resident of Haripora and his associate Abid Ahmad Rather of Wehil in a fierce encounter in an orchard in Pinjur village of Shopian district.
Kumar said that police got specific information about the presence of these militants and launched an operation against these militants who had made their hideout in a tin shed in an orchard in Pijura village.
The DIG said that these militants opened fire on the security forces after they were trapped inside the tin shed and security forces retaliated killing both the militants.
Kumar said that they were involved in the killing of a released militant Shabir Ahmad of Saidpora last year. He said that they also snatched weapons from a minority picket last year in Shopian and the security forces recovered the snatched weapons from them.
The DIG said that these two militants were involved in issuing threats to Panchs and Sarpanchs in South Kashmir and were a potential threat to the voters in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in Kashmir.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Lt Col N N Joshi said that based on intelligence inputs from Police regarding presence of militants hiding in village Pinzur of Shopian Distt, joint operation was launched by troops of an RR battalion and SOG Shopian which resulted in elimination of two hard core HM militants while one was still trapped.
“At 1330 hrs, intelligence input was received regarding three militants hiding in a shed near Drallbagh Orchard of village Pinzur in Shopian. Immediately troops of RR and SOG, Shopian jointly launched an operation and cordoned off the area. Subsequently troops came under heavy volume of fire from militants, during the ensuing fire fight, two militants were gunned down. These militants have been actively operating in the area since last more than two years”, the spokesman added.
The death of the militants sparked off violent protests in the area. Hundreds of people shouting slogans pelted stones on the security forces. Police fired teargas shells triggering clashes resulting in injuries to nine persons. Police also restored to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
All the injured persons have been immediately shifted to district hospital Shopian for treatment. However, the three injured persons who have received serious pellet gun injuries shifted to SKIMS Soura for specialized treatment. They have been identified as Umar Ahmad, Tariq Ahmad and Mohammad Ashraf.
Photojournalist Sajjad Ahmad was also injured as he was beaten by SOG while covering encounter. He was referred to hospital for treatment. “I was returning from the encounter site when the forces grabbed me and beat me mercilessly. They also damaged my cameras,” he said.
LIC Zonal Manager addressing branch heads during a conference at Amritsar.
JAMMU, Feb 13: Mega conference of Branch Heads of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Srinagar Divisions of LIC of India, was held at Amritsar.
A P Singh, Zonal Manager North Zone, LIC of India, addressed the Branch Heads of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Srinagar Divisions and discussed business review and new planning for the remaining months of the current financial year after the launch of new plans by LIC of India.
The other senior officials present in the conference, included Anil Gupta, Regional Manager (Marketing), Sr Divisional Managers of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Srinagar Divisions.
On the occasion, Divisional officials and Branch officials, who have already achieved their First Premium Income targets were honoured.
A P Singh urged the other officials to follow these achievers and multiply the LIC business for benefit of people.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Taking serious note of power crisis being faced by people in Jammu region especially in winter months the Minister of Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla has sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who also holds the portfolio of power to avert the crisis and provide relief to the people of the region.
According to sources, the Minister has written a letter to the Chief Minister showing his grave concern over the power crisis being faced by the Jammu region during the winter months. The letter said that the Minister in the recent past at a number of occasions has taken up the issue with Power Secretary and stressed the need on taking urgent steps to improve the power supply by repairing and replacing the damaged transformers in some areas. But it appears that the focus of the department is somewhere else, the letter added.
The letter further said there are various areas in Jammu city and its outskirts which have been without power for days due to damaged transformers. Despite the repeated pleas by Minister to PDD regarding immediate repairs to damaged transformers and their replacement but there has been no positive response.
Mr Bhalla sources said in the letter has pointed out that being a local MLA, the people often knock his doors and even at times he had to face their wrath.
The letter said budgetary subvention of Rs 1 crore for each district for the improvement and upgradation of power infrastructure was granted recently. Though Rs 1 crore may be adequate for some districts but for the districts like Jammu whose demands being a highly urbanized centre and represented by many legislators are varied and unique in its own way, so the amount earmarked is inadequate for the district.
The letter stresses on conducting survey of the areas where transformers have been damaged and not repaired and replaced. It said that the repair of transformers in private factories is held up due to payment issue and the Minister has stressed that adequate fund be earmarked for the same.
The letter further said that hampering of power supply is also affecting the water supply in those areas.
It suggested that if the Government is short of funds in State plan, it could find way to divert funds available under RAPDRP under which Rs 600 to 700 crore are available on adhoc basis to be recouped later for meeting the most immediate petty infrastructural gaps as typified by the transformer repairs and replacements.
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 13: Making mockery of the repeated directions of Government on physical verification of infrastructure projects, several field agencies and officers have either not been sharing required information with the inspecting officers or trying to block the same on one pretext or the other. Due to this, the objective behind monitoring of developmental projects and schemes has remained a distant dream till date.
“Monitoring is a continuous process which commences with the concept and ends with the completion of project. Moreover, it is a process to cross check the performance against the targeted plan and collect information from the project implementing agencies with the objective to improve practices and procedures for ensuring optimum utilization of resources”, said Economic Survey for the year 2013-14.
“The effective monitoring is further imperative as it results into completion of the projects and programmes in a fixed time-frame and within the ambit of Detailed Project Report (DPR)”, the document said, adding “in order to achieve this objective the Project Appraisal and Plan Monitoring Division of the Planning and Development Department has been monitoring the physical performance and financial expenditure of the projects on monthly/quarterly basis with the line departments implementing the developmental activities, programmes and projects”.
In order to bring improvement in the implementation of developmental schemes/ projects in the State and attainment of Plan objectives, the Planning and Development Department during the current financial year initiated a new intervention to assess the physical status of infrastructure projects taken up by developmental departments in the State under Plan and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
Accordingly, the Planning and Development Department vide Order No.61 dated July 2, 2013 mandated the Additional District Development Commissioners, Regional Joint Director (Evaluation) Jammu/Kashmir and District Statistical and Evaluation Officers with the assignment of monitoring and conducting physical verifications of infrastructure projects in a specified manner within the stipulated time frame.
As the findings of these physical verifications were required to be reviewed/monitored periodically and shared with the concerned departments for initiating appropriate remedial measures, the Planning and Development Department, at the time of issuing order, directed all the departments/field agencies to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to the inspecting officers so as to ensure 100% physical verification of the assigned projects.
However, inputs received from the inspecting officers carrying out physical verification indicated that some field agencies/officers have not been showing seriousness in this regard. They are either reluctant to share the required information sought by the inspecting officers or trying to block the same on one pretext or the other thereby causing obstructions in the smooth conduct of verification process of the infrastructure projects.
What to talk of monitoring by Additional District Development Commissioners, Regional Joint Director (Evaluation) Jammu/Kashmir and District Statistical and Evaluation Officers even the independent monitoring through NABCONS has not been yielding desired results.
According to the Economic Survey, 34 projects of Roads and Buildings, Health and Medical Education Departments, 17 of PHE and Irrigation and Flood Control Department were taken up for monitoring by NABCONS in 2011-12. Though field visits have been completed yet the monitoring reports are still awaited.
“However, in case of 53 projects identified for 2012-13 first visit has been completed and departments have been apprised with the good practices adopted”, the Survey said. Though the Economic Survey said that 1870 projects of School Education Department are being assigned to NABCONS for 3rd Party Monitoring during the current financial year involving cost of Rs 35.37 crore yet it has not indicated as to how many of these projects have been assigned till date despite the fact that financial year is all set to be over.
