Srinagar, Apr 14: Concerns mount as the government’s flagship urban mission (AMRUT 2.0) is struggling to move beyond paperwork in key townships of north Kashmir including Sopore, Baramulla and Pattan, even as the government admitted to a poor response to tenders floated under the scheme.
According to government data, out of 64 projects tendered under the mission, only 46 have progressed to the allotment stage or the letters of intent, while the remaining projects are either under technical scrutiny or have received negligible participation.
“12 notices inviting tenders (NITs) are currently under technical and financial evaluation, while six NITs are live,” it reveals.
What has particularly raised eyebrows is the situation in Sopore, where only a single bid has been received for a floated project, even as the lone response is still undergoing evaluation.
In Sumbal area of Bandipora, the projects have been allotted, whereas Pattan’s NIT is still active and Baramulla’s tenders are under technical scrutiny.
The minister in charge of Housing and Urban Development Department in the legislative assembly addressed the concerns raised by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone, saying that the department is following a composite tendering mode instead of fragmented tenders — contrary to the approach adopted under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme.
It is noteworthy that the government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved 153 projects worth Rs 1,665.10 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) — designed to provide water supply through functional taps to all households in statutory towns and coverage of sewerage/septage management. (KNO)
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