Srinagar, Apr 21: The Government of India funded Rs 822 crore electrification program for Jammu and Kashmir to light up all rural households by 2010 has come under scanner with multi-crore “unaccounted expenditure” shown by the State Government and minimal achievements made under the program pointing towards a scam.
While State Government claims expenditure of Rs 500 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutokaran Yojna (RGGVY) started in 2005-06, which means an expenditure of 61 per cent, the achievements have been a meager 10 percent, 29742 rural households of the targeted 303682 rural households.
Besides, intensive electrification of 12530 already electrified villages/hamlets was part of the program.
Under dock, the state authorities are now silent on unaccounted expenditure and delay in completion of the program within the set five years.
“Huge shortfall of 90 per cent indicates that main objective of the program to provide access to electricity to all households has not been achieved,” an official report said.
Under the RGGVY, Government of India provides 90 percent capital subsidy.
An official said 14 projects covering entire J&K were sanctioned between 2005-06 and 2008-09 at Rs 821.62 crore for completion by the end of March 2010.
The execution of the projects in 14 districts was entrusted to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and J&K State Power Development Corporation (seven districts to each). While electrification in Srinagar, Budgam, Leh, Kargil, Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur was to be carried out by NHPC; Baramula, Pulwama, Kupwara, Islamabad (Anantnag), Rajouri, Poonch and Doda had gone to J&KSPDC. While 8329 un-electrified/de-electrified villages/hamlets were to be covered under the program, the achievement has been just 574 villages/hamlets. The shortfall has been 93 percent of the set target.
Of 12530 villages/hamlets targeted for intensive electrification under the program the achievement has been just 6054 villages hamlets equaling just 48 percent of the target.
In some cases huge discrepancies have come to fore vis-a-vis the achievements claimed by Power Development Department and situation on the ground, rendering even the meager “achievements” asserted by the state as doubtful.
In an instance against the target of 224 and 559 villages/habitations under intensive electrification in Leh and Kargil respectively, the achievements have been shown much higher- 1965 and 585 villages/hamlets respectively. “The state government has failed to explain huge variations in the data provided which has now rendered the claim of achievements as doubtful,” the report mentioned.
Not only this, there was nil achievement against the targets in case of Baramulla, Pulwama, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts despite allotment of funds during 2009-10 and 2010-11.
The PDD has failed to engage any franchise for management of rural distribution network and complete any project within the set period despite signing of tripartite and bipartite agreements with NHPC and Rural Electrification Corporation.
“This means that the state government was liable to lose not only the benefit of 90 percent capital subsidy but also repay the loan along with interests,” an official said.
Since 2006-07 to 2010-11 the state government received Rs 664.73 crore against which the fund utilization has been Rs 499.69 crore. While during 2006-07 the unspent balance was 100 percent of funds received (19.59 crore) the unspent balance was Rs 175.39 crore equaling more than 65 percent of available funds during 2010-11.
“The accumulation of unspent balance led to non-completion of the targeted works and non-extension of benefits to the consumers besides undue financial aid to the executing agencies on account of earning of interests on unutilized grants,” said an official. “It was seen that NHPC earned interest of Rs 10.35 crore on unspent balance lying with it during 2007-08 to 2010-11.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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