Srinagar, Mar 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that the Anantnag shopping complex project, initiated in 2005, was listed under the Languishing Projects category in 2018. It was later transferred to the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department for completion.
Responding in writing to a starred question posed by Peerzada Mohammad Syed, MLA Anantnag, regarding the reasons for the non-completion of the shopping complex at the Old SRTC Yard near the D.C. Office, Anantnag, the government provided details about the project’s status.
The Chief Minister, who is also the Minister in charge of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), said, “The project was initially started in 2005 and was listed under the Languishing Projects in 2018. Under this category, no fresh tender was issued, and the previous contractor was allowed to continue the work.”
The government further informed that the project was transferred to the R&B Division Anantnag for execution and completion through Government Order No. 43-JK(HUD) of 2020, dated 04.02.2020.
However, the R&B Division Anantnag later pointed out that the project had been initiated without obtaining the mandatory Technical Sanction. Additionally, a significant portion of the work was carried out beyond the scope of the initial allotment, without an extension of the contract or the execution of a formal supplementary agreement.
“Before proceeding with further execution and completion of the project, the PW(R&B) department sought clarification and completion of the required formalities,” the government said.
MLA Anantnag further inquired about the steps taken for the project’s early completion and the expected date for the allotment of shops to those who had already made payments.
In response, the government said that the H&UDD had constituted a committee, vide Govt. Order No. 168-JK(HUD) of 2024 dated 14.08.2024, headed by the Director of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir. The committee has been tasked with investigating the causes of delays in granting technical sanction and facilitating its immediate approval.
