Srinagar: The execution of development projects in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a unique phenomenon wherein the premier government-backed construction agency Jammu Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation?JKPCC is losing bulk of work to the newly emerged players such as J&K Housing Board and J&K Police Housing Corporation.
This is despite the massive size and resource base of JKPCC. The coporation has a sanctioned strength of 24 General Managers, four Superintending Engineers and is manned by around 5000 employees including engineering and non-engineering staff. Sources said the under-construction projects executed by JKPCC have been lingering for the last so many years.
Deadline is being pushed forward every year which results in cost escalation and the corporation often goes for the revision of costs while its profit margin remains the same. Knowledgeable sources maintained that the Capital expenditure including salaries is salvaged from the project cost. “A significant portion of the project cost goes into the salary bill of the employees of JKPCC,” a source said.
Sources in the Public Works Department said that it was quite astounding that Police Housing Corporation, on the contrary, manned by just two executive engineers has secured many projects from the government departments over last few years. He said that Police Housing Corporation (PHC), essentially established on security reasons in 1997 to man the infrastructure development of the Police Department, is securing more and more projects from the government departments.
Police Housing Corporation had to build infrastructure of Police Department to meet with needs for combating militancy sources said and added that in 2011, the then MD PHC had categorically reported to the government that PHC was not meant for execution of public works in the various government departments. Thereafter, PHC started expressing interest in diverse civil projects of the government departments and started participating in competitive bidding.
Even military engineering wing which is the most competent organization having best expertise and latest technology support is assisting the civil administration at the national level only during calamities. But PHC has all of a sudden jumped into the race of executing civil projects in the state said a senior official in PWD wishing anonymity. He said it was interesting to note that PHC did not possess expertise or manpower as the Engineering staff are all on deputation to the Corporation.
On J&K Housing Board securing major projects, the official said, It is amazing that Housing Board having just four executive engineers is executing hundreds of development projects which is being appreciated by one and all. He said Housing Board has 235 employees including engineering and non-engineering staff.
He said that only one executive engineer posted in HB head office is efficiently looking after the execution work of Unani College Ganderbal, Teachers Bhawan, 100-bed hospital in Gandooh Doda, District Hospital, Bandipora, Sub-district hospital Chanapora Srinagar and a number of PHCs and Sub-Centers, 3 College Auditoriums and many other major and minor projects. The senior PWD official in Civil Secretariat said that efficient project management by Housing Board Engineers have secured them more and more projects.
He said that Ayurvedic College, Jammu, Teachers Bhawan Jammu, Changa Hospital, Jammu, Bishna Hospital, Jammu, RS Pura Hospital, Jammu and many other projects are going on in Jammu division. He said though JKPCC is manned by equally efficient Engineers (DGMs and below the rank), however, the organization needs a revamp at the top level and government has to give support to this organization to make it strong enough to handle the major and ambitious projects and infuse new blood in the pivotal government subsidiary. Being one of the most pivotal developmental organization, JKPCC should be given some breather and should not be thrown out of competition the official said. (KNS)
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