Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 3: As both the coalition partners—National Conference and Congress have ironed out differences on certain contentious issues in the recently held Coordination Committee meeting, the State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tomorrow afternoon, is likely to clear much delayed Rs 7000 crore worth rehabilitation package for the refugees.
Moreover, the Cabinet is also going to accord approval to the report determining geographical boundaries/territorial jurisdiction of new administrative units, which are slated to be dedicated to the public by the Chief Minister simultaneously on September 8, 2014 so as to make them formally functional.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that Rs 7000 crore rehabilitation package for the Displaced Persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 prepared by the Revenue Department will come up for discussion and approval in tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting. After the Cabinet approval, the package would be forwarded to the Union Government for funding on the analogy of the similar package for the Displaced Persons of Kashmir valley.
“As both the coalition partners have already resolved the contentious issues in the recently held Coordination Committee meeting there is no room left for any sort of disagreement over the refugees’ package”, sources said in response to a question. “Moreover, in the minutes of last Cabinet meeting held on July 16 it is clearly mentioned that the package would be cleared after placing it on top priority in the next meeting, which is being held tomorrow at 3 pm”, they added.
Because of differences between the coalition partners, the memorandum relating to the package had to be submitted twice. When this package was earlier submitted to General Administration Department for placement before the Cabinet, the same was referred to Cabinet Sub-Committee handling the recommendations of Justice Sageer Ahmed Committee and this led to protests by Congress Ministers during two consecutive Cabinet meetings.
During the last Cabinet meeting, three Congress Ministers even went to the extent of staging walkout over non-cooperation from the National Conference in clearing the rehabilitation package and finally it was agreed that package would be cleared in next meeting. “Now, all eyes are on tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting”, sources said.
The Revenue Department has proposed payment of ex-gratia compensation in favour of Displaced Persons at the rate of Rs 25 lakh per family against the losses suffered by them on account of immovable and moveable properties left out in Pakistan.
It has also been proposed that recommendations be made to the Government of India for providing job reservation in paramilitary forces/army and other Central Government services and reservation in professional colleges outside the State for the children of PoK and Chhamb refugees and inclusion of left out families for providing incentives.
According to the sources, issue of cross-border firing affected people may also come up for discussion in the Cabinet as agreed in the Coordination Committee meeting. “The representatives of both the coalition partners in the Coordination Committee had agreed to discuss the issue of providing plots to the people living along the border in the safer zones”, they added.
As already reported exclusively by EXCELSIOR on August 31, the Cabinet would discuss and approve the report determining geographical boundaries and territorial jurisdiction of new and adjoining existing administrative units in the State.
Following the Cabinet approval, the Revenue Department will issue notification under Section 5 of Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act. “As Rural Development Department has yet not come up with report regarding the boundaries of new CD blocks, the Cabinet will issue necessary direction so that report on the analogy of the Revenue Department is placed before its next meeting for approval”, sources informed.
As far as other routine administrative agenda is concerned, the Cabinet will give nod to extension of Srinagar Master Plan limits from present 416.25 square kilometers to 757 square kilometers.
Report of One Man Commission of Inquiry on Shopian incident will also come up for discussion in the Cabinet.
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