JAMMU: A major share of development funds being spent in Kashmir valley is ending up in the pockets of the militants.
Reports available here indicate that the militants have virtually captured the system of allotment of works and release of funds by engineering departments, like public works, power, development and public health engineering.
Contracts are allotted according to the dictates of the militants and funds released without actual verification of the work. A substantial part of the value of the contract goes to the militants, it is learnt.
This situation has come about because many of the local level officers are sympathetic to the cause of Kashmiri freedom, while others dare not resist the demands of the militants because of the fear of the gun. Top officers, on the other hand, remain confined to the secretariat for security reasons.
As a result, a lot of money meant for development work is actually going to contractors and militants. Many relatives of militants have themselves turned contractors to make most of the situation.
An officer said that the siphoning of development funds to militants had been going on for more than a year. Last year, most of the districts in Kashmir reported unusually high utilization of allocated funds in spite of the fact that normal life in large parts of the Valley remained dislocated for: most of the year due to frequent strikes and top gear militant activity.
For instance at a meeting of the Anantag district development board, Ved Marwah, Adviser to the Governor, was surprised to Team that about 80% funds had been utilized, when the Valley: was now bound and no work was: possible.
It is not only the development funds which are going to the: militants. In fact, they have
Worked out a perfect system to corner a share from almost ail govt payments in the name of the cause the officer said.
There are times when silence has the loudest voice
-Leroy Brownlow
Article extracted from this publication >> October 11, 1991
