Srinagar, Apr 14: Even as the revised cost of Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Program for Jammu and Kashmir has escalated to around Rs 32,000 crore, the spending has been just 30 per cent for the past more than six years since the plan was launched in the state.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that while the performance on the projects under state sector to be executed by the state agencies has been satisfactory, the execution of works has been poor for the projects to be implemented by the central agencies.
 “The total spending under the PMRP which was revised to more than Rs 32,200 crore has been around Rs 10,000 crore, which is almost 30 per cent of the total project cost,” sources said.
 The poor performance especially in the central sector continues despite Government of India decision to closely monitor the execution of the centrally sponsored schemes and flagship, PMRP, in the state.
 Of the revised Rs 4,600 crore plus allocation, the expenditure is between 80 to 90 percent on the 19 projects in the state sector.
 “The performance has been satisfactory on up-gradation of Transmission and Distribution system, Ramban-Dhamkund-Swalakote, Khannabal-Pahalgam, Narbal-Tangmarg and Mughal Road,” sources said.
 However they said there has been little or no progress on the work on execution of Srinagar-Leh transmission line and establishment of new Degree Colleges.
 “These schemes are likely to spill over to next financial year,” sources said.
 Giving details, sources said the execution of work on at least 23 projects in central sector to be executed by the state agencies has been “dismal.” They said the revised cost on the projects has already escalated to more than Rs 6000 crore.
 The projects include construction of 50 tourist villages, 12 tourism development authorities, sewerage and drainage projects for Greater Jammu and Greater Srinagar, and NHRM scheme. 
 “Following dismal performance on sewerage projects it was subsumed under JNNURM,” sources said. At least Rs 1470 crore and Rs 1741 crore were allotted respectively for sewerage and drainage for Jammu and Srinagar.
 “Against the approved funding of more than Rs 800 crore, Rs 35 crore and Rs 650 crore plus for electrification of villages, construction of tourist villages and conservation of Dal Lake the spending have been around 500 crore, Rs 5.70 crore and around Rs 150 crore respectively.”
 The performance is “worst” on execution of central projects, mostly in power sector, to be implemented by the central agencies like NHPC.
 “The most affected projects are Pakul Dul, Bursar, Kishangaga hydro electric power projects. On which just Rs 100 crore, Rs 80 crore, Rs 460 crore plus have been spent against the revised allocation of around Rs 5550 crore, Rs 4350 crore and Rs 3650 crore respectively,” sources said. The other power projects to be executed under the scheme are Nemo Bazgo and Chutak on which the spending have been good.
 Prime Minister of Dr Manmohan Singh had announced Rs 24000 crore reconstruction program to JK in 2004.
 Last October, Home Secretary, GK Pillai who was part of a high level central team led by the cabinet secretary, KM Chandrashekhar, to review the implementation of PMRP, had told Greater Kashmir that the office of the cabinet secretary and officials from other (central) departments will be closely monitoring the progress on the projects.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST