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| Conservation of Dal Lake: DB orders Com Secys Fin, Planning, HUDD to appear in person today | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar Nov 18: A Division Bench of the J&K High Court comprising Justice Hasnain Massodi and Justice A M Magrey on Wednesday directed Commissioner Secretaries of Finance, Planning and HUDD to appear in person tomorrow to explain their position regarding the conservation of Dal and Nigeen lakes.
"In case charge of any of these officials is with the Chief Secretary of the state, then he shall depute next officer in hierarchy in the department," said a division bench of the court comprising Justice Hasnain Massodi and Justice A M Magrey.
The direction also followed perusal of a compliance report filed by vice chairman of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) in pursuance to the court's directions last month.
The Vice Chairman LAWDA submitted that against sanctioned project cost of Rs.298.76 crores under National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) for conservation of Dal and Nigeen Lakes, LAWDA has till now received only Rs 248-Cr by ending March 2014. The project was to be completed by March 2010 itself.
He said that for previous financial year (2014-2015) and for current year, the LAWDA has not received any funding under NLCP till date.
Referring to a report of Additional Secretary Project Director, Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Hafiz said that by the end of December 2010, only Rs 159.44 Cr were provided. With a further release of Rs 99 Crores during next three years till March 2014, the total amount released is only Rs 248cr, the VC said. Against the funds, the VC said, major works like Sewage Treatment Plants, Intermediate Pumping Stations, Sewerage network, afforestation, silt control works, opening of channels were taken up and completed.
"On account of non-availability of funds in a prescribed time frame the project was bound to be affected along with cost overrun."
Accordingly, the VC said, the J&K government after carried out re-appraisal of the project and was later submitted to New Delhi after approval by Monitoring and Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary. The project has been accepted by Ministry of Environment and Forest with time frame extended to ending June 2016.
"Out of balance cost of Rs.40.00 Crores (after accounting for Rs 10-cr interest earned as released) Rs. 15 Cr have been released to the State Government for onward release of LAWDA but have not been released to LAWDA till date," the VC added. Regarding directions for attaching officers and officials of LAWDA's enforcement wing, the VC said that he directed the enforcement officer to identify officer and officials.
In response to courts direction last month, the VC said that a pre-feasibility report was submitted to government of India for conservation of Anchar, Khushalsar and Gilsar but the same was refused with observation that such projects can be considered only after sewerage of the areas is taken care first. |
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