The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Mega road projects in remote areas of J-K face barriers
Contractors abandon 36 projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
Many road projects in the state have got delayed as a number of contractors who were allotted these mega projects under the national flagship Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) have failed to complete the work in the stipulated time. A majority of these contractors have left the projects midway, delaying the completion of these projects.

Since the launch of the PMGSY in the state in 2000, only 39 per cent of the target has been achieved so far. Thirtysix major road projects which were started to improve road connectivity in far-flung areas have been delayed as contractors failed to complete the approved works within the stipulated time.

“The defaulting contractors who have failed to execute the works within the stipulated time period have been issued notices and fresh tenders will be floated in case the contractor does not execute or resume the allotted work after issuance of the final notice,” the official document tabled in the Assembly stated, adding that “such agencies will be debarred from execution of works in the department for a particular period of time”.

While admitting that a number of road projects have been delayed due to the fault of contractors, the government said under the PMGSY some projects had been delayed due to land acquisition, acquisition of structures, forest clearance, shifting of utilities, court cases, etc.

The projects which have been left midway by the contractors are mainly in far-flung areas. A road project which started on December 1, 2007, to connect Mahore with Sidhare was scheduled to be completed in 12 months but the project is still hanging in balance because the contractor left the work midway.

Similarly, another important road project in Reasi district which was started on September 9, 2007, was also abandoned by the
contractor. A stipulated time of 15 months was allotted for the completion of the project.

Keeping in view the pressing demands of the people to connect a number of unconnected villages of the Ramnagar area, a project to connect Kaghote with Lehri Sumb was started on February 18, 2009. This project was scheduled to be completed in nine months but the project is still incomplete as the contractor has left the work midway.

Official documents revealed that some agencies from outside the state were also allotted the construction works and these agencies also left the projects midway.

Blacklist contractors: Omar

Jammu: Contractors who unnecessarily delay completion of projects should be penalised and blacklisted, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here on Thursday. “The department concerned should penalise and blacklist those contractors who unnecessarily delay the completion of schemes in the state,” Omar Abdullah said while addressing a meeting of officials of Roads and Buildings Department while taking stock of the progress and status of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

“A clear-cut message should go to all such contractors who are responsible for the unnecessary delay of works that government will not tolerate this at all,” he said. Omar said linking rural and remote areas with highways is all the more important in a state like Jammu and Kashmir, which has a hilly and difficult terrain. — TNS

Geelani put under house arrest
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 12
Chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest today, a Hurriyat spokesman said here. He claimed that the separatist leader had been put under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence in order to stop him from attending a function in the old city area.

“We were verbally told by the police station concerned that he cannot move out of his house….but we demand that a written order should be given to us (regarding Geelani’s house arrest),” the hardline Hurriyat spokesman added.

Geelani had to address a gathering at Maloora on the outskirts of the city tomorrow.

Omar rules out Cabinet reshuffle
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
Putting to rest all speculation about the much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle in the state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today ruled out any change in ministries, especially at this juncture.

“For those of you speculating about a reshuffle in the Cabinet of J&K, there is nothing in the pipeline at the moment,” Omar wrote on Twitter today. Omar’s tweet is considered a setback to the campaign of those Congress leaders who were lobbying for getting ministerial berths.

The Congress leadership had hinted about a Cabinet reshuffle after the completion of the budget session. After getting hints from their political mentors, Congress leaders, aspiring to become ministers, had been shuttling between Jammu and Delhi for the past one month to garner support.

Sources said during his last visit to Jammu on April 9, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz had told his loyalists that the Cabinet reshuffle was on cards. “The JKPCC had told Congress leaders that the reshuffle would be done in April and panels were already forwarded to the high command,” the sources said. They added that a group of Congress leaders, who are close confidants of Soz, had also gone to Delhi with the JKPCC chief two days back to hold discussions with the high command on the proposed Cabinet reshuffle. A group of Congress leaders, including some ministers and MLAs, are already camping at New Delhi.

Sources in the Congress said the party leadership wanted that party nominees should be given the portfolios of Roads and Buildings and Education because these portfolios were earlier held by Congress ministers.

JKPCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma told The Tribune that Congressmen were keen that these two important ministries should be given to the party. “We have already taken up the matter with the party leadership and a final decision has been taken by the Congress high command,” Sharma said.

Funds meant for backward classes diverted: CAG report
Sonika Raina
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report reveals that the funds sanctioned by the state government for the socially backward classes in Jammu and Kashmir from 2008-2011 were irregularly diverted by the Social Welfare Department towards the payments of staff.

The CAG report says that the state government did not provide sufficient funds for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other Backward Classes and the amount that was sanctioned for this purpose was also diverted by the department for paying the salary of its staff and that too without the consent of the state government.

The state government sanctioned Rs 2.20 crore in these three years of which 10 per cent was to be utilised for the welfare of the SCs, STs, and other Backward Classes. Also, the sanctions stipulate that no diversion of funds was allowed and the progress report of the funds was required to be furnished on a monthly basis to the Administrative Department of the state government.

The report revealed that instead of utilising the share capital released for the purpose, the department diverted Rs 1.15 crore during 2009-2011 towards the payment of salary to the staff without seeking the approval of the state government.

Also, the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes Development Corporation limited did not send the details of the monthly utilisation of funds to the Administrative Department.

The management of the Corporation had stated that they were not able to not meet the salary and administrative expenses. It further stated that though the government was constantly being approached for the grant of enhanced budgetary support, the support was not provided by the government.

The Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes Development Corporation limited is declared as a ‘service institution’ that is responsible for providing self-employment avenues to the socially backward classes.

Security beefed up ahead of Rajouri Day
Our Correspondent

Rajouri, April 12
Ahead of the Rajouri Day celebrations, the police and security forces have been put on high alert across the border town of Rajouri, Mubassir Latifi, Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajouri, said.

The security has been upped in the town ahead of the Rajouri Day function that starts from tomorrow. “We have done all important arrangements for the two-day celebrations in Rajouri and deployed additional troops and police personnel to maintain vigil in the area,” Latifi added.

Security personnel in civvies have been deployed at crowded places and busy markets to thwart any untoward incident.

All entry and exit points to the district are also under the surveillance of the police and the Army.

“The main venue for the Rajouri Day celebrations at the main Gujjar Mandi chowk has been decorated by security personnel,” subedar Ram Singh of 25 division said.

During the Rajouri Day celebrations, local residents pay homage to those soldiers and civilians, who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri on April 13, 1948.

Emission testing centres stink of mismanagement
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
The state has around nine lakh registered vehicles and just 94 pollution checking centres. To add to the problem, a number of these centres are non-functional due to poor monitoring by the transport department and lack of a “proper system” to track down vehicles with high emission levels.

Out of the 94 centres, only 78 (41 in the Jammu region and 37 in Kashmir division) are functional. Most of these centres lack modern gadgets, machinery and equipment or employ untrained hands to check the emission levels of vehicles.

“These centres even issue the pollution under control (PUC) certificate for unfit vehicles after charging an ‘exorbitant fee’ from vehicle owners,” a source in transport department said, adding that these centres were not adhering to the guidelines and were brazenly flouting norms.

Under the guidelines of the department, every vehicle is required to obtain a PUC certificate after one year from the date of its purchase under rule 115 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The validity of the PUC is six months.

The department has outsourced the setting up of the pollution checking centres. Though the department had authorised 94 such centres in the state — 53 centres in the Jammu region and 41 in Kashmir division — only 78 are functional.

“A good number of vehicles don’t have PUC certificates for their vehicles. For others, it is easy to get a PUC certificate by paying anything from Rs 50 to Rs 100 to any of the pollution-checking centres,” said a senior official of the transport department who did not wish to be identified.

“The department doesn’t have a proper system for tracking down vehicles with high emission levels. The vehicles are generally checked randomly and most of the vehicles ply without a valid PUC certificate,” he said.

The Transport Commissioner and Chairman, State Transport Authority, J&K, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, admitted lacunas in the existing set-up and said he had directed all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and Assistant Regional Transport Officers (ARTOs) to hold consultations with these centres so that an effective system could be put in place.

“We have directed that all vehicles that are 15 years old or more will be subjected to emission tests twice a year,” he said and admitted that there was no proper system to track down vehicles without PUC certificates.

He said the department couldn’t take strict action against the erring centres as that would result in their closure. “Instead, we are encouraging more people to come forward and set up these centres. What we can do is to hold counselling sessions for these centres and encourage them to use modern equipment to check emission levels,” Kakroo said.

A pollution checking centre in Jammu

GUIDELINES for Centres

l Pollution checking centres should make their workers to undergo training at the time of appointment. They should also be given a refresher course once every two years.

l The pollution checking personnel should have diploma in auto/mechanical engineering

l The centres should have facilities for engine diagnosis

l The centres should have smoke-meters of the make approved by the Ministry of Surface Transport

l The centres should perform pollution checking of only those types of vehicles that have been specified in the authorisation letter.

NORMS FLOUTED

l Out of the 94 pollution checking centres in the state, only 78 are functional.

l Most of these centres lack modern equipment and trained hands.

l Some of the centres even issue the pollution under control (PUC) certificate for unfit vehicles after charging an ‘exorbitant fee’

Army marks its presence not with guns, but tulips
Takes out schoolchildren, elderly for picnics to Tulip Garden
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 12
Ever since the Tulip Garden was thrown open for public last month, the Army has been organising regular picnics for a cross-section of people at this prime tourist spot.

Spread over 35 hectares, Asia’s largest Tulip Garden, which is located in the foothills of the Zabarwan hill range here, was reopened on March 29 and has so far attracted the attention of scores of locals and tourists, including industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani.

The Army too has been mesmerised by the 70 varieties of tulips put on display at the garden and just two days after the opening of the garden, it arranged a picnic for the elderly folks of Budgam district followed by similar other programmes.

An Army official said the main aim of organising such tours was to give the people of rural areas a chance to witness the beauty of the Tulip Garden. “Visits to the garden should not remain confined to a select few and hence the Army has gone overboard to enable people from rural areas to see the flavour of this breathtaking man-made marvel,” he said.

After the tour for 34 elders from Budgam, the Army organised another picnic for schoolchildren of Hajin in Bandipora district on April 6. Yet another picnic for a group of children of the same area was organised on April 10.

Bashir Ahmed, a teacher who had accompanied the children to the garden, said: “Our aim is to provide multitude of opportunities to children and such events would be conducted in future too.”

Propelled by the warm response of the people, especially children, during the excursions, the Army plans to hold similar outings in future as well.

MLA holds public darbar

Katra, April 12
MLA Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma convened a public darbar at Bhaga village in Reasi district today to listen to problems of people.

Residents of Bhaga and adjoining areas put forward their demands and various problems related to safe drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, better road connectivity and timely completion of development works.

The people of Bhaga village demanded the early completion of the Reasi-Katra road. They also demanded the upgradation of Government High School, Koti.

Sharma said he was committed to the development of every vital sector in the area and the Central and state governments had launched various schemes for the uplift of weaker sections of society. He added that the people should come forward to avail maximum benefits of these schemes. Referring to some complaints about unsatisfactory pace of works under the Rajiv Gandhi Electrification scheme, he said an inquiry was being conducted into the matter. Various district-level officials and a large number of people were present on the occasion. — OC

Class XI Persian paper leaked
Ranjit Thakur

Rajouri, April 12
The Persian paper of Class XI was leaked eight days before the date of examination in the border area of Dhral in Rajouri district on Monday. Sources said the Persian paper was leaked at Boys Higher Secondary School, Dhral, on April 9. The date of the examination is April 17.

Reports said, the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education had postponed their previous date sheet and issued a new date sheet owing to a clash in exam dates.

However, the school authorities had no information regarding the issue and the exam for Persian was conducted at Boys Higher Secondary School, Dhral, on April 9.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Rajouri, Makhan Lal said the school authorities had conducted the examination according to the previous date sheet, as they had no information about the new date sheet published in newspapers on March 30. “I have initiated an inquiry against the Deputy Superintendent and Superintendent of exams,” the CEO said.

Director, School Education, Gulzar Qureshi said, “I will take strict action against my staff, including the principal and the Chief Education Officer of the area concerned for not providing timely information in this issue.” He also assured that the examination of the Persian paper would be conducted again.

Tourism to be all-year activity in Valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 12
Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani today said the government was endeavouring to make tourism an “all-year” activity in the Kashmir valley. “The government has made concerted efforts in making tourism an all-year activity. This year we had a huge influx of tourists in winter. Opening of Tulip Garden in March has lengthened our tourist season and hopefully more visitors will come and visit us this year,” Wani said while chairing a meeting of members of the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) here.

Referring to the revised package of incentives for the tourism sector announced by the government, the Minister said the present coalition “will go whole hog” in mitigating the problems of all stakeholders, directly connected with the tourism industry in the state.

Wani assured the KEA members that the issues raised by them would be addressed. “The KEA has raised some important issues that will be looked into. I will raise all the issues with the ministries concerned and see that they are resolved on priority,” he said.

Power restored to tourist resorts in Patnitop
RK Kichlu

Batote, April 12
The Power Development Department (PDD) restored the power connections after a fortnight to all installations of tourist resorts at Patnitop and Sanasar on April 10 in the interest of the administration despite their failure to pay electric bills worth Rs 65 lakh.

During its month-long drive for the collection of electric bills, officials of the PDD, Batote division, had snapped the power supply to 31 huts at Patnitop, 10 rooms of the Tourist complex and two huts at Sanasar in March. The PDD had also snapped the power supply to other private and government buildings in Ramban district and the Assar block of Doda district, which had to pay more than Rs 25,000 as arrears to the Power Department.

After disconnecting the power supply, the PDD, Batote division, collected record revenue of Rs 2.08 crore, a 30 per cent increase from the last year and second highest revenue collection in Jammu province after Reasi division.

The PDD, Doda division, has collected Rs 7.40 lakh as revenue in the last financial year, including Rs 2.50 lakh in March, with an increase of 30 per cent over the last year while as the PDD, Kishtwar division, has collected a revenue of Rs 8.85 lakh, with a 76 per cent increase in the departmental arrear collection and 30 per cent increase in the domestic and commercial collection.

The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), which is managing the Patnitop and Sanasar tourist resorts, besides tourist bungalows at Kud, Batote, Ramban and Banihal is the biggest defaulter in the region. It owes power bills worth Rs 65 lakh to the PDD. The Patnitop Development Authority also owes Rs 8 lakh to the PDD as arrears.

“We were under tremendous pressure to meet the target of revenue collection and had to disconnect the power connections, but given the importance of Patnitop, the fear of loss of business and the inconvenience to tourists, we had to reconsider our decision in the interest of the administration, following the intervention of senior officials of both the departments and deposition of Rs 45,000 with an assurance of more depositions by the JKTDC,” said Shailender Manhas, Executive Engineer, PDD, M&RE, Batote.

“Filing suits against defaulters in courts is useless, as this does not result in good recovery and courts normally allow them to pay the arrears in easy monthly installments,” he added.

BSP to launch movement in support of backward classes
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
Charging the National Conference-Congress regime in the state with propagating anti-weaker sections policies, the state unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has threatened to launch a movement in support of demands of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.

Addressing a press conference, Prakash Bharti, coordinator of the Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir BSP, said the OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir were facing a lot of problems due to anti-weaker sections’ policies of the coalition regime. He said as per the recommendations of the Mandal Commission report, the OBCs were getting 27 per cent reservation in other parts of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir the reservation for the OBCs was just two per cent.

“The Mandal Commission report should be implemented in the state in letter and spirit,” he demanded and regretted that the OBCs had been struggling for the restoration of their constitutional rights, but the government was apathetic towards them.

Listing other problems being faced by the OBCs, Bharti said two different certificates were being issued to the OBCs for jobs in state and Central governments. “The system of issuing two certificates should be stopped and only one certificate should be issued for all government jobs,” he said.

Announcing a number of agitational programmes to get just and constitutional demands of the OBCs fulfilled, Bharti said a delegation of the BSP would soon meet Governor NN Vohra to apprise him of the problems being faced by weaker sections in general and the OBCs in particular.

“As the state government is not serious to solve our problems, we have decided to approach the Governor,” he said and added that in the next month a mass movement would be started.

Drug peddler arrested

Batote, April 12
A drug peddler was arrested and about 4,200 spasmoproxyvon capsules were recovered from his possession in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district today evening.

SSP, Doda, said Amjad Latief of Thara Bhaderwah was arrested when the police searched his bag at Chaka and recovered 4,200 intoxicant capsules from his possession. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered against him. — OC

In power-deficit J&K, reform plan fails to deliver results
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 12
In the power-deficit Jammu and Kashmir where power pilferage is rampant, the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP), initiated to bring down the whopping transmission and distribution losses, has failed to yield the desired results.

The Union government had launched the APDRP in 2000-01 as a last resort for restoring commercial viability of the distribution sector plagued by transmission and distribution losses in the form of thefts.

While power thefts still have to be tackled, the state government has not been able to implement the APDRP effectively.

An official document says against the availability of Rs 627.46 crore during the period 2006-2011 sanctioned under the APDRP, expenditure of only Rs 491.84 crore had been incurred resulting in non-achievement of key objectives of the programme.

The programme was taken up in 12 erstwhile districts of the state for implementation under six projects estimated to cost Rs 1100.13 crore by seven maintenance and rural electrification circles of the state.

The implementation of the programmes was marred by non-prioritisation of project works in densely electrified zones in urban and industrial areas, improper planning in the formulation of project proposals, non-conversion of existing distribution network into high voltage distribution system.

As a consequence, the project targets were not achieved by the end of 2006-07 and works spilled over to 11th Five Year Plan. With a “restructured APDRP” in place the projects sanctioned under the APDRP during the 10th Plan and not taken up for execution were ordered to be closed.

Following the dismal performance of the APDRP in the state, a restructured APDRP was launched in July 2008.

The official document reads, “The state government constituted a committee in October 2009 to complete various projects under the APDRP. Funding for the incomplete works, however, continued up to March 2011.”

It was seen that the works had been mainly executed departmentally instead of being given to pre-qualified turnkey contractors selected on competitive basis as per the guidelines.

Furthermore, Sub-Transmission Divisions of Kalakote and Bijbehara had spent Rs 9.98 crore on the construction of twelve 33 KV receiving stations during 2004-11 for transmitting power to various areas in three districts of Rajouri, Poonch and Anantnag.

However, power could not be transmitted from eight receiving stations, which were completed at a cost of Rs 9.18 crore during 2009-11 as no transmission lines had been laid due to non-provision of requisite funds.

Apart from this, construction of four receiving stations against which Rs 0.80 crore had been sanctioned as of March 2010 on account of procurement of material had to be abandoned due to closure of the APDRP.

Thus, funds spent on construction of seven (three completed and four incomplete) receiving stations could not extend the benefits for which the amount was spent since March 2010 and March 2011 whereas investment made on the remaining five stations was being partially utilised due to non-laying of additional lines.