90s Projects: Dept heads asked to initiate work on 1,200 projects within 2 weeks

Srinagar, Nov 28: As government cleared over 1,200 languishing projects for funding in the last one month, the departmental heads have been directed to initiate the process within two weeks.

In the last one month, the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted for the task cleared the projects requiring a cumulative investment of Rs 2,720.87 crore.

To expedite the completion of the projects, the state government on September 5 set up J&K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) for spending up to Rs 8,000 crore on completing unfinished infrastructure projects.

On October 3, the HPC approved 241 projects across Jammu and Kashmir worth Rs 570 crore to be recommended for funding through the JKIDFC.

Similarly, on October 11, the HPC cleared 315 projects of PHE, Tourism, R&B, Health and Industries and Commerce Departments involving an amount of Rs 812 crore.

Last week, it approved 282 projects, involving investment of Rs 548 crore.

An official of JKIDFC said that heads of departments have been told that approved projects would be funded for the time-bound completion.

“The executing agencies have been directed to ensure photograph of each project before the start of work and after completion, and upload the same on the official websites for the information of all stakeholders,” the official said.

As per the figures, at least 2,300 development projects in Jammu and Kashmir are lying incomplete for the want of funding.

A number of these projects had started way back in 1990s.

“These projects have been lingering for a long time. But now, 1200 have been approved for funding. The officers of the concerned departments have been directed to ensure that these projects are completed by the next financial year. The departmental heads have been directed to complete all the formalities within 15 days,” the official said.

As per the documents of Finance Department, it shall be the responsibility of concerned administrative department to formulate a mechanism for settlement of payment.

“The administrative secretaries shall complete all formalities within a period of two weeks with intimation to finance department. They shall formulate a broad based mechanism for DPT and timely transfer of funds on real time basis to meet the objectives of completion of languishing projects,” the document reads.