Shadow Correspondent
SRINAGAR, JULY 04:
Advisor to Governor, K K Sharma today called for taking necessary corrective measures to improve the financial health of the Corporation.
Chairing 94th Board of Directors Meeting of JKPCC here today, the Advisor called for a special audit of the Corporation accounts by the Finance Department to pinpoint the lapses if any.
Financial Commissioner Finance Arun Kumar Mehta, Commissioner Secretary R&B Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Development Commissioner Works, Chief Engineers Jammu, Kashmir and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
The Advisor said that the JKPCC being one of the premier project executing agencies of the State should ensure that it always maintains transparency at all levels and works should be allotted through proper bidding and e-tendering system.
The Advisor asked JKPCC authorities to strike a judicious balance between the income and expenditure and take necessary corrective measures for minimizing the administrative expenses and increasing income. He said instead of only looking towards the State Government for contracts, the Corporation must join various competitive biddings for expanding the ambit of its functioning.
Underlining the need for ensuring the usage of quality material in the works, the Advisor said the quality of works and timely completion of projects should be the benchmark of the Corporation. He said the delay in completion of works is putting an unnecessary financial burden on the exchequer of the Corporation and called for arresting this tendency.
He asked JKPCC authorities to procure the material, including cement and steel, through a proper tendering system to improve the financial health of the Corporation.
The Advisor directed the JKPCC Managing Director to ensure that payment to contractors is made as per approved project cost and availability of funds for a particular work. He said that all the projects, undertaken by the Corporation should be cleared by Contract Committees, constituted at State and divisional levels, to weigh the financial viability of the project before entering into the contract.
The Managing Director was asked to get recruitment rules of the Corporation framed early to address the grievances of the employees.
Earlier, the Managing Director P Raju gave a detailed resume of the functioning of the Corporation.
Meanwhile, Advisor Sharma also held a meeting regarding the introduction of e-buses in the State under an initiative of government of India, which would go a long way in addressing the environmental concerns, besides, providing additional transportation facilities to the commuters of the State.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Transport Dr. Asghar Hassan Samoon, Chief Executive Officer Mass Rapid Transit Systems, seniors officers of NTPC.
Speaking on the occasion, the Advisor said the purpose of the introduction of e-buses is to ensure an efficient well-integrated and multi-modal public transport system to enhance and provide a hassle free mobility in the cities, while simultaneously addressing the environmental concerns.
The meeting was told that the proposed e-buses to be introduced under the central government initiative by NTPC would be in addition to the already procured ones by the Jammu Kashmir State Road Corporation and would augment those.
