State to soon have Critical Care Ambulances in each district

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 11: After many hurdles finally the Critical Care Ambulance will be visible soon in every district hospital of the state as the health department already issues the tenders for the same.

While talking to TNI Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar disclosed that previously the court has given the stay order on the purchase of Critical Care Ambulances now as the stay is over we will proceed further and within a period of two month the ambulances will be available is every district hospitals of the state.

She further said that the department has planned to purchase 25 such ambulances for every district hospitals adding that some as per the requirement some emergency hospital are also listed to provide these ambulances.

It is pertinent to mention here that about a year ago the health department had issued tenders to purchase 25 Critical Care Ambulances, but the contractors alleged the department has given the benefits to their good ones. The institutional contractors blaming that the department’s has given the tenders illegally to those who didn’t complete the formalities or were not eligible for filling the tenders.

They also blamed that even there are two tenders filed by the same agency. The intention of the department is to swindle the funds through shabby tender process. The opinion of the experts, who were included in the Purchase Committee, was not given due consideration while framing the NIT conditions, they alleged. Even the representatives from the private firms were unhappy with the conditions during their pre-tender meeting. 

The alliance had registered complaint to the CM’s Grievance Cell on October 21 last year alleging therein that the department had flouted the norms in framing the tender conditions, but didn’t get any positive response. 

The cell forwarded many reminders to the health department about the queries of alliance group, but didn’t get any reply from the department’s officials. The controversy over the purchase of 25 Critical Care Ambulances has not only deferred the purchase unnecessarily but also put the people at disadvantage.

Moreover this project was initiated keeping in mind that the hospitals lacks this ambulance facility owing to which many of the critically injured persons have lost their lives during the past several years. Critical Care Ambulance is equipped with ventilator and monitor which secures safe transfer of critically injured patients to other hospitals for specialized treatment.

R-APDRP- central government unhappy with state, says review implementation

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 09: Central government has expressed its unhappiness over the slow pace of implementing Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) in 30 identified town of the state to take measures to lower the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses.

Sources said that Union Power Ministry had sanctioned nearly Rs 1700 crore to the government under R-APDRP in October last year and the first amount of Rs 119 crore was released to cover identified townships to strengthen the grid stations, transmission lines and feeders.

If sources are to be believed most of the funds have not been utilized to cap the losses, but diverted towards other areas forcing the centre to ask the state to follow the guidelines set for the implementation of the project.

The project was cleared by the Steering Committee of the Union Ministry of Power, which was to be implemented in two parts (A&B) to cover towns having population than 10,000 as per the census of 2001.

“The second phase of reforms may face the fate of APDRP, despite the fact that power losses have become a major drain on the resources of the state and a issue of constant friction between Planning Commission of India  (PCI) and state”, said a source.

It is pertinent to mention here that under the APDRP scheme, the Union Government had already given Rs 3900 crore to the State Government from 2002 onwards for carrying out reforms in the power sector but most of it was utilized for purchase of power to meet the growing demands of electricity in the state, leaving little for carrying out reforms.

R-APDRP is phase second of the project, aimed to cap the losses suffered by Jammu and Kashmir in T&D, an area routinely even pointed out by the Planning Commission of India (PCI).

“The problem is that state is not been able to strictly implement the reforms and has made just cosmetic measures to deal with the problem. Even the e-metering project has been left midway, taken up about eight years back”, said a official. 

CAG finds hole in PHE department

PHE failed to construct OHT tanks in Channi Himmat, Trikuta nagar and Greater Kailash

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 08: While Government claims of improving water supply system in Jammu city, but report by CAG has found number of holes in the working of the PHE department.

As per the report, for improvement and augmentation of the existing water supply to different part of the Jammu city, the Public Health Engineer (PHE) department proposed three different schemes at the estimated cost of Rs 3.80 crore.

The work has been assigned to the Executive Engineer PHE, City Division-II, where as the city area included Channi Himmat, Trikuta Nagar and Greater Kailash has to cover under this project. The works for which the proposal has been made were construction of Tube-well, water sumps, laying of allied distribution network besides construction of four Over-Head Tanks (OHTs).

The Audit analysis of records of the division revealed that work of construction of three OHTs out of four was allotted in 2004 by the Chief Engineer PHE department to two contractors at an estimated cost of Rs 68.92 lakh for completion within one year.

However, after taking up the work and completing the OHTs upto shaft at Channi Himmat and Trikuta Nagar and dome levels at Greater Kailash. The contractors abandoned the work from July 2007 to June 2008 due to non-supply of key construction material by the department and non-availability of funds for these schemes.

CAG reports says that an expenditure of Rs 68.93 lakh including payment of Rs 48.43 lakh made to the contractors had been booked by the division against these works as of March 2011. The efforts during 2007-11 of the department to have funds sanctioned for completion of the pending works had failed.

Further, efforts to persuade the contractors to re-start the work during 2006-07 had also failed as the contractors asked for compensation for escalation in cost and other losses suffered by them due to delay in supply material.

Moreover, the department with a view to testing the strength of existing reinforced cement concrete structure of the unfinished OHTs approached the Research Officer, Material Testing Laboratory and Government College of Engineering and Technology Jammu for RCC testing. Both these agencies expressed inability to conduct the tests due to lack of facilities which them.

No further action was taken in the matter toll a high level committee was constitutes by the department in January 2010 to address the issue of incomplete OHTs which suggested revision of design of all the structures in accordance win Indian Standard Code.

The committee further recommended that the structures be got inspected through some expert committee so as to strengthen the existing half constructed OHTs. The department thereafter had sought the help of Economic Reconstruction Agency for suggesting remedial measures and further progress in the matter was awaited.

CAG further says that due to improper planning by the department by way of inadequate funding, non-availability of key construction material and not designing OHTs as per the Indian Standard Code, the construction of OHTs could not be completed despite delay of more than six years which rendered the investment of Rs 68.92 lakh wasteful, besides depriving the intended consumers of the benefits of the water supply schemes.

Rs 1.42 crore become unproductive as PDA planned road through forest area

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 07: Class it a mis-manageemnt or deliberate aim, Rs 1.42 crore meant for construction of road become unproductive, as Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) officials planned road through forest area.

As per the CAG report, to promote tourism and develop Patnitop and its adjoining areas, PDA decided to construct nine kilometer Karlah to Gaurikund road. The project estimated to cost Rs 3.20 crore was submitted in December 2000 to the government for approval.

Report says that after inspection in April 2011 of the records of authority showed that in anticipation of administration approval and technical sanction, the authority advanced Rs 38.70 lakh to Land Acquisition Officer, Udhampur for acquisition of private land abnd Rs 5.69 lakh to District Forest Officer (DFO) Batote for transfer of forest land coming under the first two kilometers of road alignment.

Report further says that the authority for the work on the first two kilometers of the road executed through Executive Engineer, R&B Division, Udhampur during 2002-05 at a cost of Rs 81.55 lakh.

Moreover the authority spent Rs 15.80 lakh on construction of retaining walls and lanes during 2007-10 on the already constructed stretch of the road. Whereas no further execution was carried out thereafter.

Reports adds that on this being pointed out the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority stated that the project got bogged down due to passing of the proposed alignment through forest land and a wild life sanctuary and to avoid loss to the green wealth and the sanctuary, decision to think of an alternative route was taken. The reply was not acceptable as these aspects should have been taken into cognizance by him before embarking upon the project. Thinking of these aspects after spending Rs 1.42 crore on the project was indicative of the casual approach of the authority in planning the project.

It seen in the audit that the authority formulated a revised project in January 2007 at a cost of Rs 2.08 lakh through a consultant who put the revised cost of the project at Rs 18.24 crore. The revised estimated envisage construction of a 680 meters tunnel which would reduce the length of the road to 6.658 kilometer only.

Through the project report has been sent in February 2007 to the government for getting it funded by the Government of India, yet it was decided in March 2011 by the board of the authority, in view of the escalation in the project cost, to get the balance work executed through the state Public Work Department (PWD).

Incurring of an expenditure of Rs 15.80 lakh on the first two kilometer of the road in view of appointment of a consultant for revising in March 2005 the project for an alternative road to save the green wealth was also questionable.

The action of the CEO in embarking upon a project without taking the environment concerns into account, which dawned on him after spending Rs 1.42 crore, resulted in the whole expenditure becoming unproductive.

CAG picks holes in working of SRTC, PWD over funds mis-utilisation

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 05: Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) has not accounted Rs 11.60 crore payable as outstanding balance of Contributory Provident Fund, State Life Insurance and Life Insurance Corporation for the last fifteen years.

According to the CAG report the department has give any details of the outstanding electricity charges to Power Development Department (PDD) resulting in understatement of current liabilities as well as loss to the extent of RS 61.91 lakh.

Moreover, Motor Accidental claims awarded by MACT are concern the JKSTRC department has not shows the compensation of Rs 40.84 lakh.

Whereas the capital included Rs 0.80 crore contributed by the state government towards the share capital for which no shares has been allotted. The amount should have been reflected as capital pending allotment.

Against outstanding advances of Rs 32.23 crore, the advances worked out Rs 31.09 crore after taking into account outstanding advaces as on March 2006, additions recovery and provision, thus indicating variation of Rs 1.14 crore.

During the year 2010-11, one Statutory Corporation ie. Jammu and Kashmir State Financial Corporation forwarded one account (2006-07) and another Statutory Corporation i.e Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation had furnished the revised accounts for one year (2005-06) during the period of October 2010 to September 2011. Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation had never submitted its accounts to CAG since 1996-97 when its audit was entrusted to CAG.

Exposing the working of Public Works Department (PWD), CAG says that shortfall in achievement of targets was witnessed in all the programems. Unrealistic estimation led to cost over-run the original estimates in 1803 road works. Cost overrun of Rs 27.52 crore was witnessed in 98 roads and 45 buildings works.

In what could be an embarrassment for the planners, report has castigated over the time over run of one to nine years in 167 roads and 200 buildings works taken up by the PWD.

Works taken up on disputed sites resulted in blocking of Rs 148.43 crore on 113 road and 56 building works. 59 works had been split at different levels to avoid sanction of the higher authority.

“Due to the non-procurement of construction material, eight executing division spent Rs 62.47 crore on procurement of material from the open market and incurred an expenditure of Rs 1.04 crore.

Increasing school inflow

Govt. fails to utilize central funds to attract children

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 04: The state as well as centre government has introduced number of schemes to educate every child of the state at least to give him basic education, but somehow authorities have failed to fulfill their promises.

As per the officials records the Government of India government has launched a scheme Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RET) Act 2009 in 2010 besides Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-day Meal (MDM) but when the other facilities in not available these projects are not fulfilled the propose.

Records say in Jammu province there are 4055 schools with total enrollment of 210447 students and the 14936 teachers are appointed there. Out of which 4055 schools are running without building.

Moreover the in 2838 schools there is not a single toilet which shows that about 70 percent of the schools in Jammu provinces lacks this essential requirement. In this high-tech era about 3936 education institutions still not have computer service.

Whereas the basic and most important thing drinking water facility, which is required in every institution, be a government as well private, 2108 schools are running without proper drinking water.

73 percent of the schools in Jammu division do not have a play ground which is also a necessity of education institution. As far as book bank and furniture facility is concern in 2382 and 830 schools respectively required these ground level amenities.

Evidently, a significant number of students have been denied the benefit of infrastructure facilities proposed under SSA with shortfall in achievement of target ranging between 43 and 62 percent despite there being availability of funds.

Out of 5232 works estimated 156.83 crore taken up during 2002-11, 3422 works had been completed during the period at a cost of 105.45 crore.

As per the audit report it is observed that poor utilization of funds under the programmes resulting in huge unspent balances at the close financial years at all levels. The department has failed to provide basic amenities and facilities to students.

Sewerage project for Jammu still incomplete

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 02: Spending huge amount of money to streamlined the sewerage system of the city Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) still unable to complete the project from the last long time causes troubles to the masses.

Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has assigned the said project to National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) in which they have to cover different areas of Jammu included the congested roads, lanes and bye-lanes of old city.

According to the sources, there are pipes of different utilities like PHE, embedded at various departments which are posing difficulties in expediting the execution of works.

For sewerage project under JnNURM the government has sanctioned Rs 129.32 crore in which Rs 40.54 crore has been released till date in two parts. Whereas the agency has expended Rs 28.80 crore on the work.

Moreover, on the other parts of the city like Talab Tillo and Bhagwati Nagar same project was started in the year 1996 which was expected to complete in March 2012 but still some of the work is pending. The funds sanctioned and release by the concern authority for the proposal were Rs 24.77 crore in which Rs 33.78 crore has been spent on the work.

The Housing and Urban Department coordinating with the line department on fast track for removal of unforeseen impediments to complete the work timely.

Also the inspecting and monitoring of the project for better quality work the J&K Urban Engineering and Environment Department (JK-UEED) is the nodal agency for implementing for the project, which is constantly monitor and review the execution of the project on ground.