Utilization Certificate not yet submitted to Central Govt. on Expenditure under PRASHAD Yojana

 

Utilization Certificate not yet submitted to Central Govt. on Expenditure of Rs. 60 crore released to Govt. of Odisha under PRASHAD Scheme since 2014-15

Dear  friends

 The Ministry of Tourism launched the PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive)  scheme that aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned, and sustainable manner in order to provide a complete religious tourism experience. 

Earlier, the scheme identified 12 cities for the development of pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The criterion for the selection of these cities is their rich heritage and cultural history.

The 12 cities identified under the scheme at first are as mentioned below:

Kamakhya (Assam)

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh)

Dwaraka (Gujarat), 

Gaya (Bihar),

Amritsar (Punjab),

Ajmer (Rajasthan)

Puri (Odisha), 

Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

Kanchipuram(Tamil Nadu)

Velankanni (Tamil Nadu),

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), 

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)

 Objectives of PRASAD Scheme

PRASAD Scheme is launched with the following objectives:

·         To enhance tourism attractiveness in a sustainable manner

·         To harness pilgrimage tourism so that it directly affects and multiplies the employment generation and economic development.

·         To promote local art and culture, handicraft and cuisines etc.

·         To develop world-class infrastructure in religious destinations

The development of infrastructure under PRASAD Scheme includes the development of lighting and illumination with renewable energy sources, eco-friendly modes of transport, first aid centres, drinking water, waiting rooms, toilets, parking, craft bazaars/souvenir shops / haats / cafeteria, rain shelters, telecom facilities, internet connectivity etc. Development of basic tourism facilities like road, rail and water transport, last-mile connectivity, like Information and interpretation centers, Money exchanges and ATMs.

 On 3.9.20, RTI Application was  submitted   to the CPIO, Ministry  of Tourism, Govt. of India seeking  information about  details of fund  released  to  Govt. of  Odisha  under PRASHAD Yojana  and details of  utilization  certificate  submitted  by Govt. of Odisha  against  the expenditure  of the  fund released so far.

 The Response of  CPIO dt. 28.9.20 is as follows.

 A.   Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India released Rs. 50 crores for Infrastructure Development   at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under mega circuit in  2014-15.  Besides that the Ministry also  released  an  amount of Rs. 10.00 crore   to the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha  in the same  year 2014-15.

 B.   Though six years passed, the Govt. of Odisha  has  not  submitted  Utilization Certificate of a single rupee  to  the  Central Ministry  till yet.

 

Srikant Pakal

RTI Activist

M-9338455092

Date-29.9.20

 

Break-up of Sanction of Rs. 1911 crores for COVID in Odisha

 

Break-up of Sanction of   Rs. 1911 crores as per Statement  of Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha

Dear friends

 

In the month of July, 20, while  addressing  press meet,  Chief Secretary   has  given statement  that Rs. 1911 crores  has been spent  for  COVID Management  in Odisha. Many people have questioned the utilization of such amount and demanded its break-up  and purpose. To access this information, RTI Application dt. 23.7.20 was submitted to the PIO, Dept. of GA & PG seeking information  i.e.,  copy  of  press  release  issued  by Govt.,  details of  allocation of Rs. 1900  crore under  different heads ,  details of utilization of fund  by concerned  departments ( month-wise).

 

RTI Application was transferred to the PIO, office of Special Relief Commissioner, Govt. of Odisha to provide  the  information. On 25.9.20., the PIO of SRC, Bhubaneswar provided the  following  information.

 

Amount  sanctioned  for management  of COVID 19  by the Departments

Sl.No	Name  of the Department	Purpose	Amount ( In crores.)
1	GA & PG Dept (CMRF)	Assistance  to Street Vendors, Feeding  to stray animals,  Train Ticket  for  Shramik Express train , Quarantine  Incentive, Transportation of Odia Migrant	339.03
2	Revenue  and Disaster Management Dept.  ( SDRF)	Provision of food  for  destitute, beggar, homeless in rural and  urban areas,   Awareness  Material by Home Dept.   Arrangement and functioning  of Medical camps  in Rural  and urban areas.   Procurement  of essential equipment by DG, Police & DG, Fire  services Measures  for  quarantine, Sample Collection,  screening and  procurement  of essential equipment/ labs by Health and FW	624.05
3	Panchayat Raj & DW	Management of Temporary Medical Centres  and COVID Care  homes	875. 19
4	Planning & Convergence  Dept	Management  of COVID 19 like Health Infrastructure , Procurement, relief, awareness and similar  activities  in the  district	73.50
		Total	1911.77

 

N.B.- Copy  of  press release  and  Details of  expenses  made  under  different heads  by concerned dept. has not been  provided  by the  PIO.

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 25.9.20

Dysfunctional of CCTV Camera is many Kendrapara Police Stations, Odisha

 

Dysfunctional of CCTV Camera is many  Kendrapara Police Stations- RTI Revelation

·         a. CCTV defunct in 50% of  police Stations  of Kendrapara  district

·         b. Though CCTV camera  defunct  in Nikirei Police station  from 28.2.2019, the IIC reported  on 20.7.20 after  one  and half year.

·         c. Though SDPO, Pattamundai  has reported  aout  dysfunctional of CCTV since one year, SP Kendrapara  has not  taken any steps  to  repair  it.

·         d. This  is the  true  picture  of 5T of  Nabin Patnaik Govt.

Introduction

  A CCTV (closed-circuit television) system is widely used across the globe.  This system allows the use of videos cameras to monitor the interior and exterior of a property, transmitting the signal to a monitor or set of monitors. It  acts  as  deterrent to criminals and anyone carrying out illegal activities and helps a lot  to Criminal  investigation team  to identify crime  and criminals.   Through surveillance cameras, the police can both prevent crimes from happening and can quickly solve criminal cases with material evidence. In addition, surveillance cameras protect against property theft, and vandalism.

 In view of it, the Home  Dept., Govt. of Odisha  has  taken  up project  of  installing   CCTV camera in various locations  and  also  at  police  station. But unfortunately, the CCTV cameras installed  are  seen  defunct in many places  for  months  together. The purpose  of installation of CCTV camera  has  been defeated  in Kendrapara district.

 On  behalf of Odisha Soochana adhikar Abhijan (OSAA),   RTI Applications have been submitted  to SP office  of many districts   to monitor  functioning  of CCTV camera  and  how it has helped to check the   crime. The  result  is very  disturbing.

 Filling of RTI  to SP, Kendrapara

 Sri Manoranjan Jena ( M- 9777472990) , RTI Activist of Derabishi block of Kendrapara district had filed two RTI Applications dt. 27.5.20 and 29.6.20  in the office  of  Superintendent of Police (SP), Kendrapara  seeking  information about details of installation of CCTV camera in various police stations,  details of  purchase , warrantry of Camera , name of the  organization installed CCTV camera in police stations, date  of reporting to SP about  dysfunctional  of CCTV camera.   

 1. In response  to RTI Application dt. 27.5.20., the PIO-cum-IIC, Nikirei Police station reported  on 14.6.20  that CCTV camera  has  been defunct  from 28.2.19 just  before  the  General  Election.

 2. On RTI Application  filed  on 29.6.20, the PIO, office  of SP, Kendrapara  provided the  following  information on  7.8.20.

Name  of  Police  Station	Name  of agency  entrusted  to install CCTV camera	Whether  CCTV defunct  or  working	Date  of reporting  to SP, Kendrapara on  dysfunctional of CCTV
SP Office, Jajang	M/S Computer World , Near Electric Office , Kajala, Kendrapara	CCTV  working
SDPO office, Kendrapara	Best Enterprises , Bhubaneswar	DO
Kendrapara  Town  Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd. Plot No.- A/23, Madhusudan Nagar, Unit-9, Bhubaneswar Ph- 06742394470	DO
Derabisi Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Aul Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Rajnagar Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Marshaghai Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Talachuan Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Pattamundai Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Patakura Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	DO
Rajkanika Police Station	Adino Telecom Ltd., Mumbai	Defunct	9.1.20
Mahakalapada Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	5.2.20
Pattamundai Police Station	Amtel  Com ( P)  Ltd, Bhubaneswar	Defunct	3.7.20
Jambu Marine  Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	4.7.20
Tantiapala Police Station  ( marine)	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	6.7.20
Energy  Police Station , Kajala	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	7.7.20
Nikirei Police Station	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	20.7.20
Kendrapara  Sadar  PS	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	30.7.20
SDPO office, Pattamundai	Micro System Infotech & Telecom ( P) Ltd.	Defunct	12.3.20

  On RTI  query  about purchase  of CCTV camera, PIO  reported  that  this  information can be  collected  from  police  Head quarter, Cuttack.

Analysis  of the  information

1.       50% of the  police station do not have  functional CCTV Camera.

 2.       Many  police stations  do not  report  SP about  dysfunctional  of CCTV camera  for  years  and months together.  For  example ,  CCTV Camera  is  lying  defunct  in Nikirei  Police  Satiation  since  28.2.2019. But  the  IIC, Nikirei  reported  it  to SP, Kendrapara  on 20.7.20  after  one  and  half year.

 3.       Similarly , Many  police  Station  reported  to SP, Kendrapara  about  dysfunctional of CCTV  just after  filling  RTI  Application dt. 29.6.20. It shows  that  the  IIC of  Police  Stations  do not bother  to  inform SP about  dysfunctional of  CCTV.

 4.       On 12.3.20, the SDPO, Pattamundai reported  to SP, Kendrapara  that  CCTV has been defunct  since 6 months. Though  one year  has passed, SP, Kendrapara  has not taken any steps  to repair  it  and make CCTV functional.  

 5.       It  is  presumed  that  there  is deliberate  attempt  by  police  stations  to  keep CCTV camera  defunct and the  authority  is also careless  to  make  it  functional.  

 Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-24.9.20