Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 9: In contravention of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme guidelines, more than ten Minor Irrigation schemes were provided financial assistance to the tune of several crores diverting funds from other programmes.
Sources told Early Times that the as per Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme guidelines which envisaged that the irrigation schemes not receiving any other form of financial assistance were to be considered for inclusion under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AlBP).
Accordingly schemes being funded under other programmes were not to be covered under AlBP, they added.
"Brushing aside the set norms incorporated in the programme, huge funds to the tunes of crores of rupees were diverted from other programmes," they informed.
As many as five Minor Irrigation schemes of two districts i.e. Poonch two and Bhaderwah three including Jhullas Khul, Salotri Khul, Kurseri Khul, Bella Khul, Berrur Khul had received additional assistance of Rs 10.15 lakh under various other programmes Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY), Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Border Area Development Programme (BADP), Natural Calamity (NC) during their execution under AlBP though an expenditure of Rs 3.24 crore had been incurred under AlBP on these schemes, they disclosed.
"Similarly, two more schemes including Dungas Bela and Chakha Khul were taken up under AlBP even though these were receiving assistance under other programmes RSVY and BRGF before their inclusion under AlBP, they said.
Sources further said that three Minor Irrigation schemes Dongroo Khul, Jathali Khul, Pranoo Khul of Doda district taken up under AlBP in 2006-07 continued to be funded under other programrnes Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna (RSVY) and funds to the tune of Rs 14.92 lakh had been incurred on these schemes during their execution even though pointed out during previous review. |
