Started nearly 7 years back, work on 11 Polytechnic Colleges yet to be completed

Construction of YS&S infra too going on at snail’s pace
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 10: In yet another testimony of sluggishness on the part of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and Roads and Buildings Department, work on 11 Polytechnic Colleges in different parts of the State has not been completed despite lapse of nearly seven years. Moreover, work on creation of vital infrastructure of Youth Services and Sports Department is going on at snail’s pace thereby creating resentment among the students and sportsmen.
In order to provide technical education at the doorsteps of the people, the Union Government in the year 2011 launched “Sub-Mission of Polytechnics under Coordinated Action for Skill Development”. The scheme was also extended to Jammu and Kashmir and accordingly 18 new Polytechnic Colleges were sanctioned for J&K in 2011 and 2012 to be established in those 18 districts which were not having institution(s) to provide technical education.
The construction cost of each of these Polytechnic Colleges was worked out at Rs 13 crore and State Government was directed to immediately start construction of infrastructure through its own agencies and ensure timely completion, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
The task of construction of 11 Polytechnic Colleges sanctioned in 2011 was assigned to Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) while as raising infrastructure of five Polytechnic Colleges sanctioned in 2012 was assigned to Roads and Buildings Department. Other two Polytechnic Colleges were sanctioned for Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) at Awantipora and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) at Rajouri.
However, despite lapse of nearly seven years the JKPCC has raised infrastructure of only five Polytechnic Colleges at Samba, Reasi, Kathua, Budgam and Shopian while as fate of six other Polytechnic Colleges sanctioned for Doda, Bandipora, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Kupwara and Shopian is still hanging in balance, sources said, adding no time-frame can be specified for completion of work on these six Polytechnic Colleges by JKPCC.
Similarly, Roads and Buildings Department has completed construction of Polytechnic College at Ganderbal and Anantnag while as work on Polytechnic College at Kulgam, Baramulla and Ramban is yet to be completed despite lapse of nearly six years, sources while disclosing that even IUST Awantipora and BGSBU Rajouri have not completed work on their respective Polytechnic Colleges.
In the absence of own infrastructure, these  11 Polytechnic Colleges are being run by the Technical Education Department either from the rented accommodation or from certain Government buildings as such students have been deprived of required facilities, sources said, adding majority of the Polytechnic Colleges have also been facing shortage of staff.
“All this reflects a complete lack of far sightedness on the part of the Government”, sources said and asked how quality technical education can be provided to the students in the absence of adequate faculty, proper buildings, laboratories, workshops and necessary equipments.
“The hanging fate of 11 Polytechnic Colleges clearly establishes that concerned authorities of JKPCC and R&B have been working without the fear of being penalized for dilly-dallying approach”, sources said, adding “the infrastructure of these institutions remain incomplete even after lapse of several years notwithstanding the fact that directions were issued for gearing up of work in numerous official meetings during all these years”.
What to talk of these Polytechnic Colleges even work on infrastructure of Youth Services and Sports Department is going on at snail’s pace and top bureaucrats and Minister concerned have yet not shown any seriousness.
Quoting an example, sources said that construction of Physical Education College in Ganderbal was started in 2010-11 but till date it has not been completed by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation. Are not JKPCC authorities answerable for such a casual approach in executing the work?, sources asked.
Similarly, work on renovation and development of Bakshi Stadium Srinagar and MA Stadium Jammu and outdoor stadium at Udhampur is also going on at snail’s pace right under the nose of the Youth Services and Sports Department and J&K State Sports Council.

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