WE THE PEOPLE
SDA violates GOI’s guidelines, sleeps over alleged sale of 188 out of 442 plots by beneficiaries at Bemina
Hence people urge Authorities to look into it and also into the allotment of residential flats at Barthana Housing Colony
By: Uzair Khan
Srinagar: While trying to catch the glimpses of the inner corridors of the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), it would be appropriate to refresh the memory of our readers by stating that the SDA was constituted in February, 1971 in pursuance of Section 3(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act 1970 to promote and secure development of the local area. The local area is the area declared as such by the Government for development by the Authority of Srinagar City according to the approved Master Plans. The Authority is vested with the powers to acquire, hold, manage and dispose off land and other property, carry out building and engineering operations and execute allied works. The first Master Plan (1971-91), with a twenty year perspective, was approved in the year 1976. The second Master Plan (2000-2021), prepared in 1999, was approved for implementation by the Government in January 2003. The boundaries of the local, area were increased from 236 to 416 square kilometers for planning under the second Master Plan, covering a population of 23.50 lakh by 2021.But detailed study of the Organization has revealed that the officials have indulged in gross violation of codal formalities by executing works costing crores of rupees without invitation of tenders and diversion of funds, depriving thereby the real beneficiaries of their rights. This has defeated the objectives for which the Centre had placed funds at the disposal of the concerned agency.
It is worth mentioning that the GOI introduced the ‘Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana’ (VAMBAY) to provide shelter/upgrade the existing shelter for people living below poverty line (BPL) in urban slums and members of EWS, who did not possess adequate shelter. Cost of the scheme was to be shared between the GOI and the State Government in equal proportion.
In this connection, the Authority submitted a scheme in January 2003to the GOI proposing construction of 442 dwelling units (DUs) at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.08 crore for the boatman dislocated from the banks of river channels and tributaries of the River Jehlum flowing through the city in Srinagar city. These boatmen were already provided plots in the Boatman Colony free of cost under other rehabilitation schemes. The total cost of each unit was worked out as Rs. 1.15 lakh, of which, the beneficiaries were to contribute Rs. 70,000 each with a subsidy component of Rs. 45,000 per unit. While the GOI released Rs. 99.45 lakh in September 2003, the State Government also released its matching share to that extent. The Authority disbursed a subsidy of Rs. 1.99 crore to the beneficiaries up to March 2008.
A close study of the records has revealed that out of 442 beneficiaries (boatmen) identified for subsidy under VAMBAY, 188 had sold their plots along with the structure constructed thereon through power of attorney to people not forming part of the target group (boatmen). The Authority subsequently transferred the lease hold rights to the purchasers of plots of boatmen in 2007 and brought them under the purview of the scheme and disbursed the subsidy, which was irregular. A test check of the records has revealed 80 cases of such sales/purchases wherein an amount of Rs. 18 lakh had been disbursed. Since the subsidy under the scheme had been sanctioned for plot holders dislocated from river banks and in the event of their having sold the plots they had lost the claim, the undisbursed amount could have been refunded back or utilized for payment of subsidy to such other persons after proper sanction. The payment of subsidy to the purchasers, apart from being irregular, resulted in passing of benefits to people outside the target group. The possibility of more such ineligible persons having been paid the subsidy cannot be ruled out.
It has also come to light that the Authority proposed to construct, on self-financing basis, 84 residential flats comprising six blocks at Bemina Barthana Hosuing Colony at an estimated cost of Rs. 6.30 crore for allotment on first-come-first-served basis or by draw of lots. Tenders were invited in May 2004 for construction of two four-storied blocks comprising 16 flats each and the work was approved in August 2004 for allotment at a cost of Rs. 2.08 crore to two contractors (one block each at Rs. 1.04 crore) for completion within six months. The allotment orders were issued to the contractors belatedly in February 2005. Further, there was a delay in issuance of layout plans and structural designs to the contractors, resulting in cost escalation by Rs. 22.87 lakh. The blocks were completed in March 2008 at an expenditure of Rs. 3.25 crore. Thus there was a cost overrun of Rs. 1.16 crore and time overrun of about 31 months on the project.
Hence people urge Authorities to look into it and also into the allotment of residential flats at Barthana Housing Colony so the grain is sifted from the chaff!
More 
