Deviations hit Rs 4794 lakhs water supply programme in J&K

BILAL HUSSAIN

SRINAGAR, Mar 11: The Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme (AUWSP) which was started in Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2003-04 is yet to see completion here. According to an evaluation study conducted by Directorate of Economics and Statistics the deviations from the set norms of the projects have resulted in their incompletion.

The study mentions that 11 towns were approved for augmentation under the programme at an estimated cost of Rs 4794.73 lakhs, out of which the department claimed to have completed 7 towns by the end of 2009-10.

“Though AUWSP has now been replaced by Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) but incomplete projects need to be completed out of other sources including state resources in case central assistance from government for their completion is not forth coming otherwise investment already made will become infectious,” the evaluation report suggests. Adding that the departments should execute projects strictly as per project components as deviations from the projects have resulted in their incompletion.

The study said that seven towns have been completed under AUWSP but there were deviations from approved components of projects particularly in respect of Kupwara, Kulgam and Nagri Parole towns.

In Kupwara town, important components like: Filtration plant, presetting tank, service reservoir etc. which needs to be executed on priority were neglected and focus was given to construction of office building, boundary wall and other unproductive components.

The information on population coverage under 70 Litres Per Capita Daily (LPCD), 40 LPCD, and 25 LPCD should have been available with the department and properly documented. Equally, the information with regard to increase in the water supply, storage capacity, filtration capacity as a result of AUWSP implementation should have been available but unfortunately these information were not available with the department for addressing the drinking water requirements in the state, the study revels.

The augmentation project of Achabal Town was phased out from 2003-04 to 2009-10 at an estimated cost of Rs 389.92 lakhs. The project was completed within the stipulated timeframe at an original estimated cost. However, analysis of the expenditure revealed that certain deviations were also made which deprived masses from full benefit of the project.

The projected report for augmentation of water supply in Kupwara town under AUWSP was of the order of Rs 7.33 crore. The items which happen to be of secondary nature, like construction of office buildings, compound walling spending of huge amounts under provision of contingencies were given undue priority at the cost of priority works which resulted in incompletion of main components of the scheme despite of full expenditure.

The augmentation Plan to accelerate the water supply in Kulgam town was also taken up in 2003-04 and continued till 2009-10. The Project was estimated to cost Rs 616.82 lakhs for completion. The official data puts the utilization amount on different components of the scheme at Rs 613.30 lakhs. The reason ascertained for non completion of the projects was deviation from project report.

The augmentation of water supply under AUWSP in respect of Nagri Parole town of Kathua district was taken-up in the year 2004-05 and completed in 2008-09. The project was estimated to cost Rs 255.10 lakhs and was completed within the original cost although some re-appropriations were made among different components of the scheme.

While, in Ganderbal town which is now headquarter of district Ganderbal was also covered under AUWSP. The augmentation plan was prepared at an estimated cost of ` Rs 394.84 lakhs and was completed by the end of March 2010 by utilizing Rs 384.99 lakhs. After augmentation, the PHE department reported that the water supply at the rate of 70 LPCD to 23323 souls and at the rate of 40 LPCD to 2591 souls is being provided. In addition to this, it also covered floating population of 2387 persons. Thus in all, it had covered a total population of 28301 through a network of 2395 domestic connections and 135 Public Stand Posts.

In Thanamandi town of Rajouri district was taken-up for augmentation in 2004-05 at an estimated cost of Rs 172.58 lakhs and completed in 2008-09 within the original cost. By completing the project, the PHE department reported to have achieved the intended objectives of providing water supply to the town, but some areas were still found under water scarcity zone as per norms.