Chairs high-level meet to review functioning of PWD

Srinagar: In order to strengthen the road network across J&K, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday set the target of 8000 km of road length for the Public Works (R&B) Department.

The meeting was informed about a quantum leap in terms of achievement made by J&K Government in the road sector with 3167 kms of new roads been built under 272 schemes in 2020-21 as compared to previous 5 years’ average of 1450 kms.

The Lt Governor was chairing a high-level meeting to review the functioning of the PW(R&B) Department, wherein he sought the detailed status of achievements made and the goals set under various components.

Reach out to unconnected habitations with road connectivity. Put concerted efforts to strengthen and expand the intra UT road network, especially in rural & remote areas so that the population living in these areas can be extended all basic amenities for leading a quality life, the Lt Governor asked the PWD officials.

While seeking the present status of the physical health of the old infrastructure, the Lt Governor directed the concerned officials to implement report of Safety Audit of Bridges in letter & spirit and further instructed them to prioritize work on bridges that needs immediate repairs.

Emphasizing on keeping a regular watch on the work progress, the Lt Governor passed specific directions for regular on-ground visits of field officers for ensuring quality and constant monitoring of the infrastructure, and submission of the progress report on a regular basis, with special focus on road projects.

People have high expectations from the Government. It is important to address their developmental needs by taking concerted measures in this direction, observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor suggested the officials to explore all possibilities to lay down a comprehensive mechanism to bring uniformity in tendering, quality control, inspection, and monitoring process.

The Lt Governor also issued clear-cut directions for completion of projects hanging in for long.

While reviewing the achievements being registered during the last six years, the Lt Governor complimented the efforts put in by the concerned officers for completing 3167 kms of new road length in 2020-21, which is more than double as compared to the length covered in previous 5 years.

On being informed about the target set by the PW(R&B) Department for covering around 4200 km road under PMGSY I&II connecting 191 habitations, besides completing 237 languishing projects this year,  the Lt Governor advised the officials for pooling of resources and opting for convergence mode for better outcome and speedy execution of projects.

Under Pot-hole Free Road programme, this year, the department aims to make 6000 km road length free of pot-holes, the chair was informed.

For maintaining transparency and accountability in the working of the department, the Lt Governor asked the concerned functionaries to put the working in public domain so that people can have easy access to all the relevant information.  He also called for developing a mechanism for providing right information to the public with the factual position of the projects.

On enquiring about the Health Infrastructural development being taken place in the UT, the Lt Governor was informed that the department is aiming at completing as many as 74 health infrastructural projects by the end of this year. The officials were also directed for ensuring effective utilization of installed oxygen plants.

He directed the concerned officials to expedite the pace of work on all projects taken up by the Department under various schemes for their timely completion, besides taking all requisite measures to remove the bottlenecks, if any, to achieve the target within fixed timelines.

The Lt Governor also sought a detailed report of schemes yet to be completed, besides work status of schools and colleges undertaken by JKPCC and directed for their completion in a time-bound manner.

During the review meeting, Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works (R&B) Department gave a detailed briefing about the targets and achievements under various schemes /programmes implemented by PWD (R&B) department for Construction, improvement/upgradation of roads & bridges, for providing connectivity with special focus on rural areas viz.  Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), Bridge Programme, Central Road & Infrastructure fund (CRIF), NABARD, Road Sector, Cities & Towns (Macdamization), Languishing Projects, Pothole Free Road Programme, NHAI/NHIDCL/BRO, and other departmental works.

He informed the meeting that PW (R&B) Department is maintaining a massive road length of about 41584 kms, besides 1343 bridges across the UT.

Public Works (R&B) Department has taken a major step forward to develop a web-based system to carry out monitoring and evaluation of all infrastructure projects. This shall be the paradigm shift from manual processes to online system, the Principal Secretary informed the meeting.

The Lt Governor was also apprised about the status of Forest Clearances, health infrastructure, installation status of Oxygen Plants in J&K by MED, National Highways in J&K and, etc.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor; Vikas Kundal, Managing Director, JKPCC; Chief Engineers of allied agencies and other senior officers attended the meeting at Civil Secretariat.

Srinagar: Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against six persons for selling 6.6 Kanals of Waqf land at Rangpora Zakoora here in 2003 on forged signatures of then Vice Chairman Muslim Auqaf Trust.

A spokesman of the Crime Branch Kashmir said that the case (FIR No. 22/2012) under section 420,468,467,471,120-B RPC & 5(2) PC Act was registered in 2012 after preliminary investigation following a complaint then Secretary WAQF Board in this regard.

The charge-sheet was filed against six accused persons before the Court of Additional District and Session Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar.

The accused include Abdul Rashid Wani son of Abdul Aziz Wani of Habbak Crossing Zakura (Controller Revenue Estates/ Assistant Secretary Muslim Auqaf Trust), Mohammad Farooq Hakak alias Jan son of Ghulam Nabi Hakak of Kadi Kadal Srinagar, Ghulam Qadir Mir son of Mohammad Sultan Mir of Azad Basti Tower Lane Natipora and Mohammad Lateef Misger son of Mohammad Sidiq Misger of Aali Kadal, at present Alamdar Colony Lal Bazar Srinagar besides two persons who passed away since.

In the complaint, the then Secretary Waqf Board had alleged that the land measuring 6.6  Kanals situated at Rangpora Zakoora of Waqf Board, was shown alienated in favour of Ishtaq Ahmad Ashai by way of fabricating an order (No. 360-64 Dated 05.08.2003).

“The order was shown issued under the forged signatures of then Vice Chairman Muslim Auqaf Trust. Accordingly after conducting a Preliminary Verification, a case FIR No. 22/2012 was registered,” the spokesman said in a statement, adding, “The investigation conducted has established the offences against the six accused persons who have hatched criminal conspiracy with one another and thereby have been able to grab the land situated at Rangpora Zakoora belonging Waqf Board. The land was found transferred through a fake NOC issued by the accused person.”

The investigation further revealed that the land was actually to be leased out but instead the officers and officials of Waqf Board in connivance with the accused land brokers issued the forged order and fake NOC regarding the alienation of land and thus managed to get the land sold illegally to the person who happen to be the employees of Waqf Board.

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam: Seven years after the 2014 deluge damaged Chadoora bridge, the authorities in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district have miserably failed to undertake the repairs on the bridge, thereby making the residents suffer a lot.

The residents said that over seven years have elapsed since the bridge on Doodh Ganga Nallah was damaged during September 2014 floods.

However, they said the authorities have failed to undertake repairs on the small bridge, “thereby putting lives of people at risk.”

“At least ten accidents have taken place on the bridge since it has suffered damages, but none among the administration bother to look into the issue,” Younis Ahmad, a local shopkeeper said.

“The damaged bridge is posing a grave threat to the lives of people who pass through it on a regular basis in absence of any alternative,” he said.

The locals appealed to the concerned authorities to take steps to repair this bridge so that they could heave a sigh of relief. (KNO)