Deadline for BID Extended to 14 FEB-2008, Sale of BID till 13-feb-2008, opening of technical bid 14-02-2008

Sh. Pankaj Jain CEO ERA today inaugurated the Static & Mobile Environmental Laboratories established with Project Management Consultants.

CEO informed the august gathering that in order to minimize the adverse imapcts of devlopmental activities on environment, the Environmental Management Plans have been made an integral part of every contract. All the preventive measures stipulated in the contract have to be strictly complied by the contrcator. The Engineer (DSCs) supervise all the project activites and provide feedback to ERA. In order to ensure effective implementaion of EMP, Environmental Monitoring is of paramount importance. Depending upon the location, magnitude and duration of project, frequency of monitoring is fixed for each contrcat.

He further explained that utilizing the services of laboratories, ERA has already estabilshed a baseline at senstive receptors for air, water and noise environment. The baseline shall serve as the standard for ensuring the proper compliance of EMP. Given a chance if there is unaccepatble deviation of results from those estabilshed in baseline, contractors are accordingly insrtucted to comply with the stipulated safegurad norms.

CEO also apprised the press / electronic media about ERA's approach toawrads infrastructural development and requested the media to come up with relevant suggestions for better infrastructure. project activities

CEO concluded the programme with a special vote of thanks to press

The last date for sale and submission of bid documents as advertised vide this office No:ERA/DK/109/2006/ 1432 -40 dated 19-12-2006 is extended as under:-

a) SALE of bid documents 2nd Feb 2007 upto 1600 Hrs. b) Last date for submission of bids 3rd February upto 1500 Hrs. c) Opening of Technical bids 3rd February 1530 Hrs.

Venue 3rd Floor Hotel Remano, Old Zero Bridge Srinagar

CEO, ERA directed that the Director (Transport) would prepare succinct statement indicating the number of works proposed both for roads and bridges by the District Development Commissioner, the number of roads and bridges cleared by the Consultants as conforming to the schemes, the number of works tendered but not allotted, the number of works tendered and allotted and the number of works yet to be tendered indicating the reasons for the delay. EO, ERA

An amount of 358 M US$ equivalent to Rs. 1611 crores is available under the ADB funding scheme as loan and grant. Out of this amount Rs. 270 crores is grant which is part of the State Annual Plan and is also reflected in the Prime Minister's Programme. The subject wise breakup of this amount is as follows:- (Rs. in crores) 1 Roads and Bridges - Rs. 821.00 2 Urban Development/PHE - Rs. 279.87 3 Equipment - Rs. 297.87 4 Taxes etc. - Rs. 212.26 ----------- - Rs. 1611.00 -----------

It was reported that work on 7 bridges in Kashmir and 4 bridges in Jammu is in progress. 40 bridges are to be taken up and 29 bridges are in the process of being identified and projectised by the Consultants. So far only one road has been allotted from Qazigund to Kulgam costing Rs. 16 crores and work will start shortly. Work on the other roads to be taken up has not yet been started, since the list of all roads found feasible by the Consultant and conforming to the ADB norms is reported to have seen sent to the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister (Chairman ERA) for approval. Only one work in PHE i.e. laying of water supply pipes from Rangeel to the Srinagar city (50 kms) costing Rs. 27 crores has been allotted.

It was reported that the bridges are being constructed by the JKPCC and the roads by contractors from outside the State who have competed in the tendering process. Thus works costing Rs. 68 crores only have been allotted for execution which is just 4% of the total funds available.

The CEO, ERA directed to complete a succinct statement indicating the total number of roads and bridges proposed to be taken up, those identified by the Consultants as conforming to the ADB norms, the number of roads bridges tendered, the number allotted, the number of roads and bridges not tendered. The reasons for delay. It would be worthwhile to give the mileage of each road and span of each bridge.

The benefits that shall accrue i.e. the total population that shall be connected should also be indicated. This information should be disseminated among the public so that the perception that things are moving slowly a ERA is erased.