Srinagar, Apr 11: The Housing and Urban Development Department has diverted Rs 50 lakh from Sewerage Project Srinagar to Sewerage project Talab Tiloo Jammu after five months of allocation of funds. Interestingly the funds were diverted on the directions of Housing and Urban Development Minister even after the completion of works in Srinagar.
The H&UDD vide order No 168 HUD on October 27, 2009 had allocated Rs 2.50 crore to the Sewerage Project in Khushal Sar and Rs 2.00 crore to the Sewerage Project Talab Tiloo, Jammu. The order was issued by the then commissioner secretary to government H&UDD Abdul Hamid.
The work on the project in Srinagar had been completed as per the allocation of funds, when after a gap of five months newly posted commissioner secretary to government H&UDD, Suresh Kumar issued a fresh order No. 93 HUD on March 04, 2010 diverting Rs 50 lakh from Khushal Sar (Srinagar) project to Talab Tiloo (Jammu) project.
The department in both the orders has stated that “diversion and re-appropriation” is not allowed.  The order says that while incurring the expenditure and making payments the given guidelines shall be strictly adhered to.
It further says; “the funds shall be utilized on the ongoing schemes and works only. No new scheme shall be taken up without the approval of the competent authority.”
Talking to Greater Kashmir, the commissioner secretary to government H&UDD, Suresh Kumar said he was not authorised to issue such orders. “Such orders are always issued with the consent of the concerned Minister,” he said.
Sources said the work on Khushal Sar project has been completed last year. “The chief minister and divisional commissioner were regularly impressing on me to speed up the work. I completed the work of Rs 2.50 crore in May last year and till date did not get the Rs 50 lakh pending on account of the works already executed,” said contractor Abdul Hamid.
He said the government order diverting Rs 50 lakh from Khushal Sar project to Talab Taloo Jammu, when the work was already completed in Srinagar, was not only surprising but intriguing as well.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST