WE THE PEOPLE
SDA acquired land costing Rs. 1.79 crore at Rakh Gund Aksha, but failed to develop housing colony
Hence people demand probe to fix responsibility for depriving people of resultant benefits
By: Uzair Khan
Srinagar: In our earlier series, we have been showing the inner cupboards of the Department, but it is deemed fit to state that 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 was 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 although it succeeded in generating substantial internal resources, the main objectives were not 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 the Authority has made departure from the well established codal requirements and allotted some works without invitation of tenders and allegedly diverted funds from one Head to another, depriving thereby the intended beneficiaries of their rights. It has reportedly failed to utilize Central funds to the tune of Rs 3.60 crores for development of slum areas. The Authority has reportedly failed to recover advances and rent from the persons, who have occupied their buildings and shops.
The GOI had proposed in 2005 to provide assistance for integrated development of infrastructure of selected cities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Srinagar was one of the cities selected for such assistance. Under the project, eligible cities had to formulate a mid-term City Development Plan (CDP) and draw up a timetable for implementing the urban sector reforms. The GOI released Rs. 66.36 lakh in March 2006 to the Authority for preparation of CDP and a detailed project Report (DPR). The Authority invited offers in May 2006 from 14 consultants for preparation of CDP and DPR and incurred Rs. 1.29 lakh on survey work etc. out of the allotted funds. The balance Rs. 65.07 lakh remained unutilized and the Authority took no further action on the project. Inability of the Authority to pursue the project deprived the city of comprehensive development.
Moreover, a project fort inland water transport on River Jhelum from Pampore to Parimpora, envisaged operation of boats for carrying passengers through four terminals from Zero Bridge to Safakadal, was entrusted to the Authority in 1997. The project cost of Rs 8.05 crore was sanctioned in 1996 by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) (Under RIDF-II) and an amount of Rs. 57.41 lakh was released in 1997 to the Authority for its implementation. The Authority entrusted consultancy for project formulation to a GOI undertaking (M/S RITES, India) at a cost of Rs. 12.10 lakh. The project was, however, abandoned in August 1998, as it was not found economically viable.
It has been observed that the balance amount of Rs. 45.31 lakh, lying unspent with the Authority, had not been surrendered in May 2008 even after 10 years, resulting in locking up of funds leading to loss of Rs. 31.50 lakh, calculated at the rate of 7 per cent per annum for 10 years in the form of interest payable on the NABARD loan.
It has further come to light that the Government had ordered in August 2000 transfer of land belonging to Rakhs Reserved Forest Land and Farms (RF) department, measuring 4,200 kanals falling in village Rakh Gund Aksha, falling within the local area to the Authority for development of a housing colony. The proposed land was under occupation of Kamas, Illegal occupants, and was to be acquired after payment of a compensation of Rs. 40,000 per kanal as improvement charges. The land was to be handed over to the Authority by December 2001. However, during the last about seven years, the Authority had acquired only 447 kanals and 12 Marlas of land at a cost of Rs. 1.79 crore out of Rs. 1.90 crore advances (October 2003 to January 2004) by the Authority to RF Department. Further, the Authority had incurred an expenditure of Rs. 4.83 lakh on the preparation of layout plan of the proposed housing colony. Thus the project remained a non-starter and the Authority could not utilize even 447 kanals acquired by it leading to idle investment of Rs. 1.95 crore, denying thereby the benefits to the people.
Hence people demand probe to fix responsibility for depriving people of the resultant benefits.
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