Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 5: While the State Agriculture Production Department was tasked to construct only 16 farm ponds and dug wells for farmers under the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, it, flouting the set government guidelines, constructed 109 such water sources, allegedly creating a liability of Rs 23 lakh on the department. The department later cleared the liability by diverting funds from other Heads of the scheme, according to official sources. To rejuvenate agriculture sector so as to achieve four per cent annual growth in agriculture sector during the eleventh plan period (2007-12), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched by the Centre by providing various irrigation facilities to farmers. "As per the Technology Mission guidelines, an assistance of Rs 1 lakh was to be provided to an individual to give boost to micro/minor irrigation sector for creating water sources through construction of farm ponds and dug wells," sources said, adding that Chief Horticulture Officer, Udhampur, who was tasked to construct 16 water sources at a cost of Rs 16 lakh, raised 109 during the year at an expenditure of Rs 39.73 lakh, thereby creating a liability of Rs 23.73 lakh. Although, the department cleared a part liability of Rs 5.87 lakh from the same component of the scheme funds, the remaining liability of Rs 17.86 lakh was cleared by diverting funds from other Heads of the scheme in sheer violation of the guidelines, sources alleged. Shockingly, out of the 109 water sources which had been created by the department, 52 got damaged and developed cracks rendering the expenditure of Rs 18.15 lakh wasteful but the department had so far failed to initiate an inquiry into the bad quality construction works and fixing the responsibility on erring officials, sources said. |