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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
No comprehensive planning for upgradation of UP roads, says CAG report
Proposals for widening and strengthening of roads were sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh without ensuring availability of free land that resulted in delay in completion of work, stated the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India tabled in the UP Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. CAG report said lack of planning resulted in a delay in completion of work related to road projects in UP. (For Representation) Sharing an example, the report cited Varanasi-Shaktinagar Marg amounting to ₹121.59 crore that got sanctioned in May 2018 without ensuring availability of encumbrance free land. This resulted in a delay in completion of work by more than two years. Widening and strengthening of Manikpur to Dharkundi Ashram via Kalyanpur road in Chitrakoot was sanctioned in May 2018 for ₹40.37 crore. Departmental officers did not ensure the availability of encumbrance free land before sending the proposal as forest clearance was not granted by the forest department, the report said. This resulted in reduction in width of road during execution by 1.54 metres in a stretch of four km against original technical sanction of 5.5 metres, the report stated. The Rule 6 (2) of the Central Road Fund (CRF) Rules 2014 inter alia provides that the proposals shall include only those works where land is available without any encumbrance. The audit, however, noticed violation of the rule in following cases, the report stated. There was no comprehensive planning in the state for upgradation of roads under CRF, however, an annual plan was prepared from 2022-23. No periodical traffic survey was conducted to identify upgradation requirements, the CAG report further said. 'The proposals under CRF were sanctioned by the state in an ad hoc manner without proper identification and prioritisation of roads based on requirement. The department utilised only 35 percent of the allotted budget for execution of works sanctioned under CRF during 2016-17 to 2022-23. There was a difference in the expenditure recorded in the books of accounts,' the report stated. 'The proposals received from public representatives were consolidated and proposed by the department for consideration under CRF instead of selecting the works based on prioritisation,' the report added. No periodical traffic survey was conducted by the divisional officers, due to which identification and prioritisation of roads for upgradation could not be carried out properly. Thus, the department did not have a complete and updated database of roads to facilitate systematic and objective planning for upgradation of works to be undertaken, it said. Hence, the entire process of submission of proposals by divisional officers was performed in absence of proper planning procedure, the report said.
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt imposes ban on plastic shopping bags
KARACHI: The Sindh government has taken a revolutionary step to curb environmental pollution by imposing a complete ban on all types of plastic shopping bags throughout the province. According to a notification issued by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development, the manufacturing, storage, sale, and use of all plastic shopping bags will be strictly prohibited across Sindh from June 15, 2025. The ban will apply to non-degradable, oxo-degradable, black-collared, and recycled plastic bags as well. The provincial cabinet had unanimously approved the proposal during its meeting on April 15, 2025, following the recommendations of the Environment Department. Subsequently, the Sindh government amended the 'Sindh Prohibition of Non-Degradable Plastic Products (Manufacturing, Sale and Usage) Rules 2014' and introduced a complete ban on all plastic shopping bags by revising Rule 3, Sub-Rule (5), and Entry No.1 of the schedule. Previously, in 2019, the provincial government had imposed a partial ban, allowing only specific weight and size plastic bags under certain conditions. However, those exemptions have now been revoked, and a blanket ban is being enforced. Secretary Environment Agha Shah Nawaz Khan stated that plastic bags are hazardous to the environment, and this historic decision has been taken in the public interest. 'We want to provide a clean, green, and safe environment for future generations — the time has come to permanently get rid of plastic,' he asserted. He warned that any violations of the ban will lead to strict legal action with no leniency. Environmental experts, civil society, and citizens have widely appreciated the move and called it a landmark decision by the Sindh government. The Secretary Environment has urged district administrations, industrialists, traders, and the general public to actively participate in this national campaign. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
