Broken dream of software Technology park (STP) in Jammu
Nitesh
Sangral
JAMMU,
Dec 16: The much awaited multi crore, Software Technology Park (STP) which was
conceived about six years back, to boost the export and create job
opportunities for the highly qualified software technicians in J&K has
turned out to be a broken dream.
Thanks to the ill management, lack of publicity and planning, the park resources have remained unutilized.
The establishment of STP was first mooted by State Government in 2003 and was approved Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in March 2003 and land was provided for it at Bari- Brahmna.
The project was constructed with the assistance of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to meet the needs of the software exporters in the state. But Audit scrutiny by CAG has revealed that there is nothing on record to indicate that government had carried out any survey to find out the market for the software to be developed at the centre.
It is important to mention here that the cost of the project was estimated at Rs 5.89, when the project report was first submitted by state government to GOI, of which state has to contribute in form of land, and building, which cost state exchequer Rs 45 Lakh and Central government invested about Rs 5.44 crore in the project.
The State Industrial Board, leased out 24 kanals of land in August 2004 and 7,371 Sqft of build up space to STPI incurring an expenditure of Rs 4.48 crore on various works civil infrastructure up-gradation, water supply, drainage system, fencing, electric connection and other important accessories..
According to sources, during audit scrutiny of the accounts CAG few years back, the company could not lease out any premises to the software units till March 2006. In response the management had stated that in view of the poor response no allotment could be made to any of the software units in and outside the J&K. The management has further stated that after installation of Earth Station at the unit, the company is expected a good number of customers.
Officials disclosed that thus the implementation of the project, without carrying detailed survey to access the demand of the software exporters and without ensuring its vialibility resulted in unfruitful expenditure of Rs 4.48 crore. Besides non-utilization of state assets worth Rs 45 lakh (In form of land).
Thanks to the ill management, lack of publicity and planning, the park resources have remained unutilized.
The establishment of STP was first mooted by State Government in 2003 and was approved Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in March 2003 and land was provided for it at Bari- Brahmna.
The project was constructed with the assistance of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to meet the needs of the software exporters in the state. But Audit scrutiny by CAG has revealed that there is nothing on record to indicate that government had carried out any survey to find out the market for the software to be developed at the centre.
It is important to mention here that the cost of the project was estimated at Rs 5.89, when the project report was first submitted by state government to GOI, of which state has to contribute in form of land, and building, which cost state exchequer Rs 45 Lakh and Central government invested about Rs 5.44 crore in the project.
The State Industrial Board, leased out 24 kanals of land in August 2004 and 7,371 Sqft of build up space to STPI incurring an expenditure of Rs 4.48 crore on various works civil infrastructure up-gradation, water supply, drainage system, fencing, electric connection and other important accessories..
According to sources, during audit scrutiny of the accounts CAG few years back, the company could not lease out any premises to the software units till March 2006. In response the management had stated that in view of the poor response no allotment could be made to any of the software units in and outside the J&K. The management has further stated that after installation of Earth Station at the unit, the company is expected a good number of customers.
Officials disclosed that thus the implementation of the project, without carrying detailed survey to access the demand of the software exporters and without ensuring its vialibility resulted in unfruitful expenditure of Rs 4.48 crore. Besides non-utilization of state assets worth Rs 45 lakh (In form of land).
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