1. Home
2. Jammu

SMDA fails to utilise allocated funds during 2018-19

Young Bites. Dated: 6/15/2019 10:57:06 AM

BHARAT BHUSHAN Jammu, June 14 Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority (SMDA) has miserably failed to utilise even half of the funds allocated for the development of these two important tourist destinations of Jammu during the financial year 2018-19 courtesy lethargic attitudes of Babus. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted SMDA for the development and beautification of these two lakes of the region—Surinsar and Mansar. The famous religious places Purmandal and Utterbehni have also been brought under SMDA besides 53 adjoining villages. Funds are allocated to SMDA for the development and beautification of these places which had remained unutilized as the babus at the helm of affairs have other priorities than making these places developed by raising adequate infrastructure. Various social and political organizations raise hue and cry for neglecting tourist destinations of Jammu but the lethargic attitude of Dogra officers at the helm of affairs are responsible for the same. As per information available with Young Bites a total sum of Rs 2.10 crores was allocated and released to SMDA during the financial year 2018-19 out of which only 78 lacs was utilised while more than Rs 1.32 Cr remained unutilized and got lapsed. Whom to blame? Astonishingly, it has happened when the Dogra officers were at the helm of affairs. The sources further divulged that the incumbent CEO of SMDA cancelled all the allotted tenders during the last financial year after assuming the charge of this prestigious authority following which one of the contractor has approached the court. Sources privy to the affairs of the SMDA told that the incumbent CEO of SMDA nowadays is busy in organizing cultural activities of the tourism department which he is not suppose to and also keep his entire team busy in organizing the events. The junior staff particularly from the Engineer Wing is directed to arrange breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshment for these cultural events whereas no attention is being paid towards development and beautification of these spots. The sources further said that the files pertaining to developmental works are licking dust in the office of the CEO who now holds the additional charge of Bani Basholi Development Authority where he is busy in organizing a cycle expedition. How wise this decision was to handover the additional charge of another development authority to a person who being the head of SMDA failed to utilize allocated funds? The Governor who claims to deliver justice with the region must look into the performance of the babus before posting them on such prestigious postings which are directly connected in promotion of tourism in Jammu region so that the taxpayers’ money is properly utilized and the places of tourist attraction are developed.