Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, Feb 13: Despite being cleared for funding, several government departments have failed to restart work on the languishing developmental projects.
For the last one year, by Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Limited (JKIDFC) has approved funding for 5000 projects which were languishing for years.
However, several government departments are yet to start work on these projects.
“There are at least 80 projects in Rural Development Department which were cleared by JKIDFC for funding. The department has made no progress to start work on these projects,” an official of Rural Development Department said.
The official said most of these pending works fall in Chenab belt of Jammu region.
Similarly, Roads and Buildings Department has also failed to make any progress on languishing projects despite approved by JKIDFC for the funding.
“Some of the projects like road widening and construction of roads are languishing for years. Despite availability of funds, Roads and Buildings Department, and Housing and Urban Development Department have failed to start work on over 50 projects which are languishing for years,” said an official.
Principal Secretary, Arun Mehta, who is also the chairman of JKIDFC, has expressed serious concern over delay in starting works.
“Mehta has raised the issue with secretaries of several departments to ensure that the work on the projects, cleared for funding by JKIDFC, is started immediately. Departmental heads have also been warned of action if they fail to start work on these projects,” an official of Finance Department said.
Principal Secretary Finance Department Arun Kumar Mehta has also directed departments to ensure geo-tagging of all the projects being implemented by the JKIDFC.
“With a view to ensure effective real-time monitoring of the projects being implemented by the JKIDFC, a geo-tagging facility has been created in JKIMS,” a government document says.
The nodal officers as per the documents have to take photographs either online or offline mode through the JKIMS portal
As per the directives, the departments shall not forward the invoices without ensuring that the photographs are uploaded in the manner prescribed to get real-time picture of the work done.
