Soon after assuming charge as Minister for Public Works, (PWD), Naeem Akhtar, today said the government would put in all possible efforts to ensure transparency in the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Ltd (JKPCC).The Minister while speaking during a maiden review meeting of the department here, affirmed that government would work to further strengthen the Corporation and turn it into a mega job providing agency. “I have had a brief experience of working with the Corporation and I know this Corporation has a huge potential to become a mega job provider in the State,” he said. “The Corporation can also be viable for the large pool of unemployed engineers, whose services could be utilized for the state’s development,” he said.Akhtar asked the officials to prepare a ‘Growth Plan’ for the Corporation and provide a sketch to the Government on how the organization could be revamped on a large scale. He called for taking the agency to the national level. He said an organization of this size which has been able to generate Rs 400 crore could be pushed to generate Rs 4000 crore revenue. He asked the J&K Projects Construction Corporation officials to work on the convergence model and pool in all the efforts for bringing transparency and viability of the projects undertaken by it.
“Pool all your expertise and intellectual knowledge for making the Corporation viable,” he said adding that all the projects undertaken should be thoroughly reviewed and studied by the core competent team and bring in positive developments to its functioning.The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Public Works (R&B) Department, Rohit Kansal, Managing Director, JKPCC, Daleep Thussu, Development Commissioner, Works, Bimal Tikoo, Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu, Alok Mengi, CE MED, Jammu, Yograj Abrol, Chief Engineer, Mughal Roads, Sudhir Shah, Chief Engineer SKUAST, T.R Bhagat, CE SPD, Amraish Raina, CE ERA, Ravinder Kumar, SE PMGSY, Jammu, Sita Ram Dogra, Tariq Ahmad, Director Planning (PWD) among other senior officials of the PWD and its allied wings.Akhtar asked the officials that the arbitrary allotment of works must be stopped immediately and e-tendering process should be followed to maintain quality and ensure timely execution of projects.
He said the Corporation should adopt pro-active approach and enhance the functioning of the JKPCC in order to lay hands on the national and international projects. He further asked the Corporation strictly adhere to all the codal formalities including e-tendering process for execution of all types of work. He said that measure aimed at bringing transparency in the working of the Corporation would be initiated. “JKPCC should be showcase of our workmanship and it will help us in bringing transparency into the system”’ he asserted.The meeting was informed that 428 works were under execution across the state with 157 in Jammu region and 271 in Kashmir region which are being done with an estimated cost of Rs 4386.55 crore.Later, the Minister expressed concern over the delay in completion of several projects being executed by JKPCC. “You have a team of professionals which must work under deadlines for proper execution of works,” he asked the concerned.