Non-completion of numerous projects within given time frame is one of the recurring problems with our administration. This problem does not persist with any particular department; it engulfs almost all developmental activity in the State. There seems little rationale for bringing the onus of delayed completion of projects either to the doorsteps of the engineers in charge and their associated staff or to the higher ups who are closely linked to developmental activities in the state. In the first place there is the highly complicated bureaucracy and paperwork that long delays in processing the cases become somewhat inherent in the system. It takes weeks and months to move a file from one table to the other. Secondly, work culture has not been made smooth among non-skilled workers. It tells upon efficiency and output. A large part of our labour force comprises labourers from outside the state who are less acclimatised to weather conditions and local environs. The contractors generally are bad paymasters and delaying the wages of the daily workers is a negative point in speedy completion of the project.
Many projects need constructional material that has to be brought in from other parts of the country. Transportation of such materials especially the heavy ones, takes a good deal of time. This entire phenomenon has cumulative impact on the speed with which construction of projects takes place. If constructional material is to be hauled to hilly sites, it makes things more complicated. Additionally, weather conditions too take toll of time. The number of work days in a hilly region is much reduced owing to snow and harsh winter in which output is considerably decreased.
But with all said and done, the authorities charged with the duty of bringing the projects to completion cannot escape the blame. There seems no justification for long delay in their completion. To elucidate the point at least 203 projects, mostly in the vital sectors of water, power and public works have failed to meet the completion target despite expenditure of Rs 690 crore incurred so far. Among vital projects, 108 in the Public Health Engineering Department, 92 in the Public Works Department and three in the Power Development Department have not met the target date of completion viz. March 31, 2013. Despite the sanctioned cost of Rs 1,051 crore, an amount of Rs 690 crore is the expenditure incurred on these projects during the past several years.
It is for the administrative echelons to sit down and discuss how this obstruction can be surmounted. The source of corruption lies in delaying the release of instalments. It is a means by which the babudom wants to assert its authority and at the same time extricate pecuniary benefits from the contractors. When funds are available and the project expenditures are patently shown, what can be the reason for not utilizing them to full capacity?
Submission of utilization certificate is a recognised practice and norm that is meticulously followed everywhere in administrative system. After all authorities need to know whether a particular scheme or project for which allocations have been made has been brought to completion or not. Executive organs of a department are required to submit UCs at proper time. Many a time for want of UC the Union Government is constrained to withhold instalments of grants. It seems surprising that a total of 2161 UCs involving Rs 1339 crore were outstanding as on March 31, 2013 of which 1064 UCs amounting Rs 631 crore were outstanding for more than one year. This is sheer irresponsibility on the part of the concerned. Therefore the administrative head of a department has to be made answerable to this lapse.
There seems to be little realization among our top officials that delaying a project especially such as are of extraordinary importance and urgency for the general public brings in many difficulties and problems for ordinary people of the State. It tramples the urge for living a productive life and contributing to the welfare of the society.
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