As the saying goes ,”Once bitten twice shy”, Jammu and Kashmir Government has been experiencing, especially of late, much more black in lentil in various projects and “schemes” leading to treading steps more cautiously in this corruption ravaged state. After smelling a rat in Government Employees Group Medical Insurance Scheme with Reliance General Insurance, the state administration has abandoned its ongoing negotiations with M/s AFCONS JAL JV for allotment of work on two tunnels of 10 kilometres each at 1000 MW Pakal Dul hydro-electric power project over river Marusadar, a tributary of Chenab in Kishtwar district. That the cost of the work has been increased by 35 percent before actually allotting the contract having appeared to be a dubitable deal which Governor Satya Pal Malik took note of, hence leading to scrapping negotiations with M/s AFCONS is really commendable.
The question arises as to at what stage were all such manipulations attempted to be made and had it escaped the attention of the Governor and the deal having gone through , how much would have the State exchequer been put to loss. It is, however, a matter of relief that the concerned authorities have decided to float fresh tenders for the tunnelling work at the project. It can be well visualised that some underhand means adopted by someone or ones with dubious integrity result not only in causing losses to the public exchequer but once such “deals” get exposed and remedial measures are taken like cancelling the floated tenders etc; , new arrangements usually take more time resulting in delays as well as cost overruns which again constitute loss in net terms. Hence it is a double edged sword working menacingly.
The unfolding of series of irregularities, corruption, and other acts of utter misuse of official position and discretion in the state , the need of the hour is to strengthen the vigilance system, empowering adequately Accountability Commission and giving more powers and autonomy of functioning to State Vigilance Organisation so that officials with doubtful integrity and those who are reported to have actually indulged in corrupt practices could be dealt with sternly and as fast as possible. Till then, the rut cannot be stemmed by any other method.
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