E-governance effective tool of transparency: Omar

JAMMU: Describing e-governance an effective tool to ensure transparency in the functioning of government departments particularly concerned with construction, procurement and purchases, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday put the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) on e-tendering portal.
The Chief Minister launched Rs. 700 lakh Magloor-Bakhtar Bridge over Ternah Nallah in district Kathua on e-tendering process at a meeting of the Corporation he chaired here. The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Managing Director, JKPCC, Madan Gupta, various General Managers of the Corporation and officers of NIC were present.
In yet another initiative aimed at bringing lucidity in the financial transactions and functioning of JKPCC, the Chief Minister who is also Chairman of the Corporation ordered e-tendering of all works of Rs. 5 lakhs and above by the Corporation.
Omar Abdullah also directed the Corporation to install hoardings at the construction site of each mega-project under its implementation giving full details about the specification of material to be used in the project for the general check of anybody intending to ascertain whether the work is being done as per the identified specifications.
“You should allow anyone to check and analyze the information details printed on the hoardings in the laboratory that should be functional at the construction site”, he told the JKPCC management.
The Chief Minister who is also the Minister for R&B has already instructed for e-tendering of all works of the value of Rs. 5 lakh and above in R&B and PMGSY Agencies. The process is going on smoothly and successfully in these departments.
Earlier, works of the value of Rs. 50 lakhs and above were ordered to be put to e-tendering but now the Chief Minister has given instructions to launch all works of the value of Rs. 5 lakh and above on e-tendering process.
Omar Abdullah has asked other departments dealing with construction of public service infrastructure, procurement and purchases to follow the suit and prepare for launch of e-tendering and e-procurement in these departments.
The Chief Minister said that among other measures taken by his Government to curb corruption and ensure transparency in the functioning of government departments and giving boost to good-governance, the process of e-tendering is another milestone in the campaign against malpractices.
Omar Abdullah reviewed the functioning of JKPCC and directed the management to ensure timely completion of works. He stressed on judicious spending of funds and sticking to the quality work.
The Managing Director, JKPCC, Madan Gupta stated on the occasion that JKPCC as a major public infrastructural development Agency in the State is presently constructing 80 vital bridges in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of over Rs. 660 crores. He said the Corporation is also constructing major infrastructure in health, medical education, sports, education, technical education, revenue and other sectors at a cost of over Rs. 300 crores.