WE THE PEOPLE
CM's deadlines for development works likely to goad officials into action and ensure their completion on time
But people demand information about all dev works to ensure transparency and execution as per advertised specifications
By: Ahlam Masoodi
Srinagar: With pumping huge sums of money into development works, exercising vigil over such projects is not practically possible and as such chances of corruption have brightened. It was in this backdrop that the previous government headed by G.N. Azad had made it mandatory for all Departments to display information about works under execution to ensure transparency. The concerned officials had been directed to display salient features, both physical and financial, at prominent places at District, Tehsil and Block levels on painted walls or erected boards so that people know what is being done by different agencies in their areas. This also aimed at monitoring and plugging loopholes. Public vigilance is always better than State vigilance and thus bound to prove more productive and effective to improve quality of public utility works. Besides public participation in State activities develops civic sense in a big way.
Many Development Projects under various Programmes of Central Government stand taken up by the State agencies for execution, but general masses are totally unaware of such Schemes and as such are interested to know the broad features of such projects. However, it is due to our personal efforts that we have gathered information about 4-lanning National Highway Bye-pass Project, which has created more problems so far. The work was taken up under Central Government's overall Highways Development Programme some years back to widen the 2-lane highway to 4-lane from Panthachowk to Parimpora. It is reported that it shall be 17.80 kilometres long, with formation width of 10 meters. Under the scheme it is proposed to increase the top width to 24 meters with dual carriageway. It is to have 4.5-meter central verge and additional service roads from Pohru Junction to Tengpora Bridge. The total cost of the Project is estimated at Rs.168 crores and there shall be four additional bridges and a flyover costing Rs 38 crores.
"With the change of guards, the tempo of developmental activities has dipped down,which is substantiated by the dismal performance of the engineers at National Highway By-pass Project. As a matter of fact, the main highway should have been widened from Qazigund to Baramulla and not only from Panthachowk to Parimpora. No doubt, this portion is going to help in the diversion of heavy loaded vehicles, giving relief to the city of Srinagar. But the authorities have disrupted the entire drainage and irrigation system in the area by widening the road. Our paddy growing areas have stopped yielding any crop as irrigation supplies stand totally disrupted. Moreover, the residential areas located on either side of the highway have been facing acute drainage problem as there is no proper outlet for waste and surface water. We have been approaching UEED and Irrigation Department to remedy the situation, but they blame the Engineers of the National Highway Bye-pass for total disruption of their systems. Although we are not technical experts, yet we anticipate failure of the highway whenever there is submergence of the areas on its either side", said a group of residents of Hyderpora.
Hence people have sought intervention by the State Governor to get government orders implemented so that people remain abreast with all public-utility works and exercise vigil over such development Projects. This will go a long way in improving specifications and quality of works. Besides they demand speedy completion of National Highway By-pass project and other projects to avoid cost escalation.
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