WE THE PEOPLE
SDA has failed to utilize Central funds amounting to Rs 3.60 crores for development of slum areas
Hence people seek intervention by concerned Minister, demand streamlining its working to make it responsive to public needs
By: Uzair Khan
Srinagar: In continuation to our three series, we deem it fit to state that the Srinagar development Authority was established with the objective of promoting and securing the development of the local area of Srinagar city in accordance with the approved Master Plans. To achieve the objectives, the Authority stands vested with powers to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property and carryout building and engineering operations. A review of the functioning of the Authority during 2003-08 has revealed that it has succeeded in generating substantial internal resources, but the main objectives do not stand achieved fully due to non-implementation of Master Plans. Although the Authority pulled up the arrears in its accounts to a large extent, it is yet to appoint auditors to certify these accounts for submission to the State Legislature. It has come to light that its officials have executed works worth crores of rupees without invitation of tenders and not realized rent of the assets pending with their occupants. It has also surfaced that works costing Rs 44.69 crores stand executed without approval from the competent authority. Such actions establish that codal formalities stand consigned to flames.
It has also come to light that works taken up by the Authority during 2003-08 took up 17 works at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.04 crore, were completed at a cost of Rs. 4.91 crore due to inclusion of additional items/quantities. The excess over allotted cost on these works ranged between 12 and 90 per cent. Apart from being irregular, this was also in violation of the orders of the Authority stipulating that all factors were to be taken into account while formulating the estimates to avoid revision of costs at a later stage.
As is well known that Financial rules provides execution/allotment of works at competitive rates and in a transparent manner by restoring to open tender system. Despite a comment on execution of works invitation of tenders included in the CAG’s Report 1998-99, 62 works 2004: (21 works, Costing Rs. 32.52 lakh), 2005: (34 works: Cost: Rs 81.32 lakh) and 2006: (7 works; Cost: Rs. 7.86 lakh) costing Rs. 1.22 crore had been allotted (2004-2006) to contractors without inviting tenders and assessing the reasonability/ competitiveness of rates. A perusal of the records has revealed that the works taken up on emergency grounds were not emergent in nature, which could not be tendered. This is a serious violation of codal formalities.
Besides the Authority has incurred an expenditure of Rs 58.66 lakh out of the funds provided under the scheme meant for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), on development of land selected for construction of Dwelling Units under VAMBAY. However, the site was subsequently used for development of HIG/MIG/LIG housing colony for raising internal revenue resources of the Authority and the plots developed were auctioned to the general public. This resulted in irregular diversion of EWS funds to the extent of Rs. 58.66 lakh, besides denial of socio-economic benefits to the intended beneficiaries.
Hence people seek intervention by concerned Minister, demand streamlining its working to make it responsive to public needs.
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