Several important projects which are supposed to start after the approval and allocation of funds at the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting, have been pending for long with the dates of such meeting being deferred. Consequently, the development of the district keeps on suffering.
Mention worthy, such dates have been deferred thrice in recent past and the administration is yet to come up with a new date, spawning frustration among those who are eager to take things forward as per the development roadmap.
It is pertinent to mention that District Planning Committee (DPC) Haridwar consists of 40 members, including the top officials of the district administration, several executive engineers of different departments, one/ two members from all the six blocks and one/ two members from Municipal Corporation. Besides, eight/ nine members are nominated by the Central Government.
Several public representatives, including all the eleven elected members of legislative Assembly (MlA) and one Member of Parliament (MP) are its members. The In – charge of Haridwar district is Indira Hridayesh, cabinet Minister of Finance and Industry. She is nominated by the state government.
Notably, for the past three consecutive financial years, DPC Haridwar has been receiving Rs 50.50 crore for various development projects being initiated across the district. It may also be mentioned that the financial year starts from the first of April every year. District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting is held once a year and the allocation of funds to respective departmental projects are finalised which are supposed to be completed by the end of the particular financial year.
In an exclusive talk with The Pioneer, district economical and statistical officer DK Asthana informed that for this financial year (2015-16), a fund of Rs 57.25 crore has been already sanctioned by the state government. In all, 32 departments have submitted their different project details which are to be discussed before they approved.
Highest number of projects is from Public Works Department (PWD) worth around Rs 20 crore. Due to the deferred meeting, the implementation of such projects is being delayed, resulting in the district suffering developmentally.
Moreover, things were delayed as the model code of conduct was enforced for 28 Bhagwanpur Assembly by-election process that ended on 18 April.
After the process was over date for DPC meeting was fixed on 24 April. But later, it was cancelled by the minister In – charge of district. The date was advanced to 4 May. However, it was again deferred due to Buddh Purnima, a gazatted holiday, as it marked huge footfalls of tourists in the district. Till the filing of this report, new date is yet to be finalised.