| I&FC apathy costs heavy on agriculture sector | | Delay in completion of 19 LISs, causes loss of Rs 33 Cr | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sep 6: The sheer negligence on the part of Irrigation and Flood Control Department to take up the various irrigation related projects timely and subsequent their completion in specific time period, the State suffered a whopping loss of Rs 33 crore as cost overrun of the projects which ultimately adversely affected the agriculture sector of the State.
Sources told Early Times that over two dozen of Lift Irrigation Schemes were found which had been getting delayed due to unknown reasons since three decades which led to cost overrun of these projects which had reached to Rs 33 crore.
"The time and cost overrun in respect of 19 Lift Irrigation Schemes namely Lethpora, Palpora, Chung, Manda-II, Ismailpur, Akalpur, Seri Palai, Awneera, Lalyal, Saidgarh, Sohanjana, Kothey Saini, Jethana, Gurah Pattan, Tral, Rafiabad, Rajpora, Rakhi Momin and Nikowal ranging between one to 30 years and cost overrun ranged up to Rs 33 crore," they said further adding that although majority of the above mentioned schemes have been completed and made functional except Awneera, Lalyal, Tral, Rajpura, and Saidgarh, but undue delay in their completion raises several questions on the credibility of the concerned department due to which crores of the rupees were wasted due to cost overrun and cost heavy on farmers. "Yet I&FC showing no interest to complete the remaining projects which clearly exhibit that the department is least bothered towards the plight of farmers, in fact the early completion will ultimately benefit the agriculture production of the State," they informed.
Besides, Lift Irrigation Scheme Bardoh in Khour block of Jammu was taken up in 1999-2000 at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 crore to provide irrigation to thousands of acres of land by 2003. The scheme envisaged an increase of 25 thousands of quintals in agricultural produce but scheme remained incomplete after incurring expenditure of Rs 2.crore on procurement and part construction of civil work, they said. |
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