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.
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