SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI SEPTEMBER 12:–As Mehbooba Mufti’s government had failed to provide funds for the construction of Panchayat Ghars (constructed/under construction) under the ‘Chief Minister Commitment Scheme’ CMCS) in Rajouri district, many contractors struggling from pillar to post for the release of their payments.
In one such matter, a contractor has locked the under construction building of Gabbar Panchyat Ghar (upper Raj Nagar) in Rajouri district in the month of March last year after he failed to get any response either from the BDO Office or from the office of Executive Engineer Rural Engineering Works (REW).
“I am not aware of this matter. Neither the contractor nor the concerned Engineers (JE & AEE) ever have approached my office in this matter. I will enquire from the concerned engineers what can be done in this matter” said Noor Ali, Executive Engineer, REW.
“Under BDO office Authority letter No. Wks/BDO/2018-19/06-10 dt 15/5 2018 the construction of balance work of Panchaat Ghar building Upper Rajnagar was allotted in my favour under the Chief Minister Commitment Scheme with the project cost of Rs 20.91 lacs” said Nazir Ahmed , contractor (ex-sarpanch Rajnagar). Nazir Ahmed has spent about Rs12.75 lacs on the construction of the building up to slab level. When the BDO, JE concerned, and the office of Executive Engineer REW was approached and it came to the fore that Mehbooba Mufti’s government doesn’t release funds for this important project.
“We have no place to organise our official meetings, even with the Block Development Councillor (BDC) and District Development Councillor (DDC). We have hired a shop to keep the records and we have no funds to pay the rent” said Sarpanch, Rajnagar.
“Despite every efforts, the bills for making the due payments to the contractor Nazir Ahmed couldn’t be entertained because no funds were released till my retirement in the year 2019” said Ghulam Qadir, concerned JE (now retd).
After mounting pressure from the contractor, elected members of the Panchyat, local political/social leaders & activists the matter was taken up with the higher authorities, he added.
In the month of February 2019 the then Superintending Engineer (SE), REW, Jammu vide his office letter No. SE/REW/18-19/1702-4 dt 4/2/19 sought the ‘Revised Detailed Project Reports ’ (DPRs) of such projects (construction of Panchayat Ghars) so that the funds can be released under Languishing Projects Scheme.
With a revised cost of Rs 28.48 lacs (initial Rs 20.91 lacs) the DPR for Rajnagar Upper Panchayat Ghar was also sent along with about 18 others. But to date, no funds were released even by the Administration of UT of J&K.
Photo of Panchayat Ghar
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