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Union home secy reviews projects under PM's plan
Union home secretary-designate Anil Goswami reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) and Special Task Force (STF) projects at a high-level meeting with state chief secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and senior officers of the state on Saturday.
Union home secretary-designate Anil Goswami reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) and Special Task Force (STF) projects at a high-level meeting with state chief secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and senior officers of the state on Saturday.
A government spokesman said detailed discussions were held regarding the physical and financial position of developmental projects under PMRP with chief secretary, underlining the need for enhanced annual outlay, covering cost escalations and re-jigging of the plan to meet pressing developmental requirements of the state.
"Goswami was informed that while a cumulative expenditure of Rs 9,157.76 crore had been accrued under various sectors by March, Rs 5,071.17 crore had been released under the PMRP till date. The funds utilisation stands at 96%, amounting to Rs 4,849.89 crore. During the last financial year, Rs 700 crore was approved under the PMRP and for 2013-14, the state has proposed an allocation of Rs 1,128.49 crore to complete the ongoing projects," said the spokesman.
While reviewing the progress of the PMGSY programme, the home secretary was informed that out of 2,504 unconnected habitations as many as 1,344 have already been completed and Rs 577 crore released by the union government through PMRP route for land acquisition stands utilised.
However, to cover rest of the habitations Rs 800 crore is needed for land acquisition and successful implementation of the programme. The matter stands already taken up with the union government which needs to be further expedited for early release of required funds.
While discussing the power sector, Goswami was informed that under PMRP, the projects that are funded under the state plan, have shown considerable impact on the ground. However, the project for strengthening of transmission and distribution network needs cost revision from Rs 1,351 crore to Rs 1,545 crore to cover cost escalation. The proposal has been submitted to the union ministry of power for consideration.
The meeting was told that under the state sector, 19 PMRP projects were taken up, out of which seven have been physically and financially completed, while seven are in advance stages of completion, three, including Mughal Road, will be completed this year and remaining two will be completed by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.
Goswami was also briefed about issues pertaining to Baglihar-II, PakalDul, Special Plan Assistance SPA, funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes, upgrade expansion of Jammu and Kargil airports, development of small airports at Kishtwar, Rajouri, Surankote, Padam etc, proposal for declaring Dunera to PulDoda, Shopian-Kulgam-Qazigund, Srinagar Bandipora-Gurez and Mughal Road as national highway, construction of Singhpora (Kishtwar)- Vailoo (Anantnag), Lolab- Bandipora and Chattapani-Zaznar (Mughal Road) tunnels and city mobility plan for Srinagar and Jammu, etc.
Progress of UDAAN and Himayat was also reviewed during Saturday's meeting with emphasis on accelerating the mobilisation/selection process to achieve set targets.
"In his response, Goswami assured to convene a meeting of all union ministries concerned to sort out the issues raised in the meeting. He assured all support to the state government in resolving and taking up these matters with the ministries' concerned and asked the state government officials to remain in constant touch with him," the spokesman added.
