Srinagar, Mar 25: With the financial year 2010-11 nearing completion, Jammu and Kashmir Government has withdrawn crores of rupees meant for infrastructure development in the Valley and ‘diverted’ the same to Jammu region.
As disclosed by highly placed administrative sources to Greater Kashmir, more than Rs 30 crore meant for construction/improvement/upgradation of various roads in Kashmir valley, including some vital arterial links in Srinagar city, were recently diverted to Jammu region by the state’s Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department, presently headed by chief minister Omar Abdullah.
According to these sources, the government as per order no. 96-PW(R&B) of 2011 dated March 16, 2011, ordered withdrawal of Rs 30.28 crore from chief engineer R&B Department, Kashmir, which were authorised to him for upgradation of roads in the Valley.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the withdrawal of an amount of Rs 3028.03 lakh (Rs Thirty crore twenty eight lakhs and three thousand only) from chief Engineer R&B Kashmir released vide Government Order Nos. 185-PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 30-04-2010, 2030-PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 25-05-2010, 273-PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 05-08-2010 and 294-PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 17-09-2010 of the following schemes,” reads the government order no. 96-PW(R&B) of 2010.
As per the said order, the funds withdrawn include Rs 6.50 crore for improvement/upgradation of Khanyar-Qamarwari-Gojwara road including additional bridge over river Jhelum, Rs 2.64 crore for widening of busy Moulana Azad Road from Budshah Bridge to MA Bridge, Rs 3.7 crore for widening of road from Police Control Room to Batamaloo Bridge, Rs 1.87 crore for improvement of Baghi Ali Mardan Khan-Hazratbal Road, Rs 1.05 crore for improvement of Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandach road, Rs 3.83 crore for widening of highway from Qamarwari Chowk to Parimpora, Rs 7.63 crore meant for widening and upgradation of Bugroo-Khansahab-Doodpathri road in Budgam, Rs 2 crore for upgradation of Beehama-Safapora road, Rs 1.89 crore for construction of road from Warpora to Fruit Mandi via Sadapora and Model Town in Sopore and Rs 46.45 lakh for Kulgam-Chagmund road in south Kashmir.
Sources said a separate order (no. 96-PW-R&B of 2011) was issued by the department, the same day, placing Rs 38.96 crore, including the funds withdrawn from Kashmir alongwith some additionalities at the disposal of chief engineer, R&B, Jammu for utilization under different road schemes.
“The amount included additional Rs 8 crore which were not released for the region earlier. The funds will be utilized for construction/upgradation of 21 roads in Jammu region,” the order said.
A top government official said almost Rs 92 crore of funds were allocated to the state under CRF. “Out of it almost an equal amount was distributed between the two regions (Kashmir and Jammu) by the Government. More funds were given to Doda since it is least connected,” he said adding that the funds allocated to Kashmir valley were, however, withdrawn on March 16 and allocated to Jammu region.
“These funds were released under Central Road Fund scheme by the Government of India for 2010-11 and were non-lapsable. The same could have been used for road development during this fiscal as well,” sources revealed.
Pertinently, the R&B department is presently headed by chief minister Omar Abdullah after the former R&B minister GM Saroori resigned last year following an expose that his daughter was involved in impersonation case in medical entrance test.
The department has already drawn flak for allotting around 1600 works worth hundreds of crores of rupees in Jammu region without any tendering process.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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