A Parliamentary panel has suggested to the Central government that special procedures including “non-lapsable funds” should be made available for the infrastructure development of Jammu & Kashmir. Currently, most of the funds earmarked for the states are getting lapsed as harsh climatic conditions don’t allow works at a steady pace.
The secretary of J&K government, during his deposition to the panel had pointed out that there are shortfalls in the utilization of central funds because the major destinations of the state remain show-covered and therefore cut-off for a considerable period resulting into road-block and shortage of men and material. “If the sanction of projects were given in October-November, it would enable them to make use of non-working months for completing pre-construction procedures so that the work was immediately started after the snow melts” The secretary has suggested.
Acting on the state’s appeal, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on transport, tourism and culture headed by CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechuri has recommended that “special procedures may be devised for the state. Funds may be put in non-lapsable category as being done in other areas of the country. Cost-norms of the projects also need to be made state-specific.”
Even works on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s special infrastructure package is lagging far behind the schedule. Under the reconstruction plan made in 2004, seven road projects were taken up. None of it has met the deadline. Construction of Mughal road between Pulwama district in Kashmir valley and Poonch and Rajouri of Jammu was scheduled to be over in March 2007 but now a new deadline of April 2010 has been set. Out of the Rs 639.85 crore of fund alloted to the project, only Rs 162.35 crore had been spent till this April. Similarly, widening of Domel-Katra road by Border Road Organization (BRO) has missed the deadline of March 2007 and out of the total fund allotment, only 61per cent has been spent.
The panel also expressed concern that the Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry reduces the plan outlay for Jammu Kashmir projects due to non-completion of works.
