J&K seeks more time for WB-funded Rs 1500 cr reconstruction program

Apprehensive about meeting June 2020 deadline for completion of World Bank- financed reconstruction programme, the J&K government has rushed to the Union Finance Ministry for time extension.

Citing “peculiar circumstances” and “adverse weatherconditions” in the state, the project monitoring unit of Jhelum- Tawi FloodRecovery Project has sought 18-month extension for completing the project.

   

“It is requested to kindly consider to accord sanction forextension of the project period till December 2021 (extension of 18 monthsbeyond June 2020) so that project gets completed effectively and the purposefor which loan was negotiated is fulfilled in the interest of the state,” readsa communiqué sent by state government to Department of Economic Affairs,Finance Ministry.

The department of Economic Affairs deals with financialassistance received by the states from multilateral agencies for undertakingdevelopment programmes. 

When contacted, CEO of JTFRP, Raghav Langer, said they havesought extension in time period because they could not undertake work due to2016 unrest and limited working season in Kashmir.

“We have been told to finalise all the tenders by Septemberand then the Finance Ministry in consultation with the World Bank will decideon our request,” he said.

Earlier Greater Kashmir reported that state government hasbeen able to spent only Rs 71 crore from Rs 1500 crore project.

After publication of the story, the National Conferenceslammed the previous BJP-PDP government and Governor’s regime for diminutivespending on Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project. Interestingly, the stategovernment, in the letter sent to Union Finance Ministry, has also acknowledgedthat progress has not been on expected lines. The Rs 1500 crore project wascleared by the World Bank in 2015 for undertaking reconstruction ofinfrastructure hit by the 2014 devastating floods, and strengthening disastermanagement capabilities in the state, which is highly vulnerable to naturaldisasters like earthquake, floods, etc.

In the past two years, the World Bank and the steeringcommittee of the project have expressed concern over sluggish pace inimplementation of the project.

 In 2017 and 2018, theWB respectively rated progress of the project as “satisfactory” and “moderatelyunsatisfactory”.

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