*Posting orders of SDMs being issued tomorrow
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 30: All 659 newly created administrative units are going to become operational from September 8 when Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah would formally dedicate these units to the public simultaneously from the summer capital of the State. Prior to this, Cabinet would approve Deputy Commissioners’ reports on boundaries of these administrative units in its meeting likely to be held in first week of September and Revenue Department would issue posting orders of Sub-Divisional Magistrates.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that Chief Minister has decided to dedicate all the newly created administrative units to the public simultaneously on September 8 from the summer capital of the State. However, venue of the function is yet to be finalized by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Prior to the creation of new administrative units vide Government Order No.Rev (S) 169 dated July 18, 2014, there were 21 Sub-Divisions, 82 Tehsils and 257 Niabats. However, National Conference-Congress Coalition Government with the one stroke of pen created 135 Tehsils, 46 Sub-Divisions, 301 Niabats and 177 CD blocks. Moreover, it has decided to make all Patwar Halqas co-terminus with the existing Panchayat Halqas.
From September 8 onwards all the newly created administrative units would be operational and people would be able to get their numerous issues resolved at their door steps, sources said, adding all arrangements for making operational all these administrative units have already been made by the Revenue and Rural Development Departments.
While Tehsildars, Naib-Tehsildars and Block Development Officers have already been posted to the newly created administrative units, 45 Junior Scale KAS officers have been placed at the disposal of the Revenue Department for their placement as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and formal orders in this regard would be issued on September 1 (Monday), sources informed.
“Even lower rung staff required for these administrative units has been placed at these administrative units and office equipment and furniture arrangements are in place”, they said, adding “both the Divisional Commissioners have been closely monitoring the requirements of newly created administrative units in their respective divisions so that from September 8 onwards these units function without any major difficulty”.
In response to a question, sources said that 50% of these administrative units have been set up in the Government accommodation while as for the remaining units, rented accommodation has been arranged by the respective Deputy Commissioners.
According to the sources, prior to the dedication of these units to the public by the Chief Minister, State Cabinet, which is likely to meet either on September 2 or 3, would clear the proposals of the Deputy Commissioners regarding the jurisdiction of these units.
“The Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the public representatives and keeping in view the laid down guidelines have fixed the boundaries of these administrative units and same would be cleared by the Cabinet early next week”, they said, adding following Cabinet approval the Revenue and Rural Development Departments would issue formal notification defining the jurisdictions of these administrative units, which is important to ensure hassle free services to the people.
It is pertinent to mention here that the process of ascertaining the demands of people for new administrative units was actually started in 2007 when the Government had constituted a Committee headed by former Chief Secretary of the State, Dr S S Bloeria. However, the report of the Committee was termed as ‘inconclusive’ in 2009 and in January 2010, the Committee was revived with Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai as its head.
The Committee submitted its report to the Government on July 14, 2011 following which no further development could take place. Last year, a Cabinet Sub Committee was constituted to take holistic view of the entire issue and invite fresh demands and suggestions from the public. After hectic efforts, Cabinet Sub Committee finalized its report and the same received nod of the Cabinet on February 1, 2014.
Thereafter, a committee headed by Chief Secretary was constituted to look into the requirement of infrastructure and manpower to make these administrative units functional and now the exercise is going to conclude on September 8 when Chief Minister would dedicate all 659 administrative units to the public.
Follow our WhatsApp channel