Why do some remain either incomplete or non-functional?

 Government schemes and projects

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government launches development projects and schemes for the progress of the State and the welfare of the people. But many such projects and schemes lose steam after a while. This can be attributed to a lack of accountability and lacunae in monitoring and implementing projects by the authorities concerned.

A Rs 1-crore cultural project was started in Kamalpur in 2008. Till now, this project has not been completed. In Gossaigaon, the Ramfalbil veterinary hospital was set up but as no veterinary doctors and staff have been appointed for the last 8 years, the hospital lies desolate.

It has been 10 months since a TET teacher at Mushalpur Dihira Primary School left his job. Since then, only one teacher has been teaching 85 students of the school in a single classroom.

The foundation stone of Nalbari's Damalghat bridge was laid in 2017 but the bridge construction work remains half-done. The Serfanguri Model Hospital was inaugurated in 2019 but as no doctor has been appointed there since then, the hospital is lying abandoned.

The Barkhetri Doulasal PHE was completed two years ago but it is not functional as yet. The Rangapara sub-health centre was inaugurated in 2014 but no doctor has been appointed to date. The Mazbat Model Hospital in the Udalguri district has only two doctors. There is no gynaecologist and no supply of medicines. The Batadrava PHC was inaugurated in 2013 but as yet it has not been made functional.

These are just a few examples of incomplete or non-functional projects. There are many such projects and schemes across the State. Things come to such a pass because there is lack of monitoring of projects and schemes on the part of the authorities concerned. The government conceives and launches projects so that the people can benefit from them. A huge amount of money from the government exchequer is spent on these projects and schemes. But when they are not completed or do not see the light of the day, people cannot reap the benefits of these projects and schemes and eventually, public money goes to waste.

Dispur cannot monitor every project and scheme. The onus lies on the district authority or the department concerned to review and monitor government projects and schemes. For example, if there are no doctors or staff in a health centre, the district authority must report the matter to the government. If the construction work of a bridge has not been completed, the Executive Engineer must approach the government to remove the obstacles, if any, which are hindering the completion of the project.

Unfortunately, the officials concerned are not held accountable for missed deadlines and incomplete work. Due to a lack of accountability, officials shrug off responsibility. In the end, it is the people who have to suffer due to incomplete or non-functional government projects.

A senior government official said, "All projects and schemes launched cannot be monitored from Dispur. The heads of the departments concerned must conduct a district-wise review of projects. If they face any major hindrances in completing the projects, then they should approach the government."

"Often, when an officer is transferred and some other officer joins in his place, the new officer does not follow up the projects that were started by the previous officer. If government officers shy away from taking responsibility, government projects and schemes are likely to suffer," he added.

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