Says Cabinet-approved third-party audit to examine project implementation; questions utilisation of Smart City funds, promises compensation after damage assessment
Srinagar, July 21: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday termed the flooding of the Civil Secretariat during recent rains as a “shame” and announced that his government will order an inquiry into the Srinagar Smart City Project while questioning the utilisation of funds under the ambitious scheme.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah, as per news agency JKNS, said the recent waterlogging exposed serious shortcomings in the Smart City Project, particularly the city’s drainage infrastructure.
“The flooding of the Civil Secretariat is a shame. This is not an ordinary issue. Let the weather improve, we will conduct an inquiry and take collective action,” the Chief Minister said.
He said the Council of Ministers has already decided to get the Srinagar Smart City Project audited through an independent third party after observing a gap between the project’s objectives and its actual outcomes.
“The Cabinet, in its last meeting, decided that there should be a third-party audit to examine the effectiveness of the Smart City Project. The audit order is yet to be issued,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister also questioned where the funds allocated under the Smart City Project had been spent.
“Except for the Jhelum Riverfront project, where did the Smart City money go? Those who conceived and implemented the project should answer this question. We inherited only around 10 per cent of the work,” he said.
Omar said the present government would utilise all available resources to improve Srinagar’s drainage system but admitted that decades-old drainage deficiencies cannot be resolved overnight.
“We will improve the drainage system with the resources we have. But such an old problem, which previous governments failed to rectify, cannot be addressed in a short period,” he said.
The Chief Minister also assured that families and individuals who suffered losses due to the recent heavy rainfall would be compensated as per the existing government norms after proper assessment of the damage.
“Those who have suffered losses due to the rains will be compensated according to the rules after assessment,” he added.
