Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 29: The Legislative Assembly witnessed uproar during the annual debate on grants of Power and Housing and Urban Development Department Ministry which were taken for debate in the second sitting today.
The trouble started after the Speaker asked Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh to reply the grants of his Ministries in the House. Soon Dr Singh stood up to speak, Javed Rana of NC protested in the House alleging that Rajouri and Poonch districts are being ignored. He stood up from his seat warning that he will stage a walkout.
Rana, while pointing to Deputy Chief Minister said that when they were not in power he was showing concern for Rajouri and Poonch.
He left his seat and reached towards the front row shouting this is a conspiracy to eliminate Rajouri and Poonch districts from the map of J&K. As Dr Singh had just started his speech, the NC MLA said “we do not accept your statement”. He was shouted down by treasury benches who also stood up from their seats retorting back asking the NC MLA to stage a walkout. The tempers ran high and NC’s Altaf Ahmed Wani also came from his seat to front row to take on PDP and BJP members.
Besides Altaf Ahmed NC’s Mohamed Akbar Lone and Devender Rana also came to his rescue. Lone also exchanged heated words with members from treasury benches at a number of occasions.
To pacify the agitating Opposition members Minister of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Relief and Rehabilitation Basharat Ahmed Bukhari said this is not the way. He said dividing State into regions is wrong. The Minister pointing towards senior NC leader Mohammed Akbar Lone told him that he too was the Speaker of the House. He asked Javed Rana to take his seat and in tomorrow’s debate on grants he can speak first.
However, as Rana was yet to take his seat Lone and Dilip Parihar of BJP entered into a verbal duel again and were involved into heated arguments. Lone was supported by Abdul Majid Bhat Larnoo. Rana sat on chair for some time but later staged the walkout in protest.
Taking serious note of member’s behavior, Speaker, Kavinder Gupta said he tried to accommodate every member and if still allegations are made it is serious.
Later speaking on annual grants of his Ministry Dr Nirmal Sing reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment that BJP is for ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’
He amidst thumping of desks by treasury bench members said in J&K coalition is also for development and prosperity of all people irrespective of region and religion. He sought support of all members including those of opposition in this mission of the coalition.
Trying to disrupt the Deputy Chief Minister, NC’s Mohammed Akbar Lone passed a remark, saying “Sher Aur Bakri Ek Saath Pani Petay hain” (Lion and goat are drinking water together). However, Dr Singh took it casually and did not react to it.
Continuing his speech, the Deputy Chief Minster reiterated the commitment of coalition to weed out corruption from public life by showing door to corrupt officials.
He said the greatest problem in J&K is that people face governance deficit and they don’t realize that the Government is working in the State. At present an employee is not considered a representative of Government. He assured the House that coalition will restore the authority of the Government and the law.
Dr Singh said a person who has no support or link the coalition assures all support to him. He said 70 percent of State’s economy is dependent on power sector and this sector has also many challenges. He assured the House that in coming days they will feel a change on the ground in power generation, transmission and distribution system.
He said to improve the functioning of power sector some harsh steps needed to be taken. Giving account of his recent visit to Central workshop at Jammu, he said 63 kg transformer was weighing 15kgs less and this was the reason that the transformers were not bearing the load as per the capacity they were designed to and develop snag often.
He said an inquiry was ordered in the matter then and there by him and concerned officer was attached. Terming it a big scandal he said no body found guilty and involved in the scam will be spared.
Pointing towards the uproar in the House two days back over the transfer of power projects to the State, Dr Singh quoted the couplet of Union Finance Minster Arun Jaitley’s budget speech and said that the old thorns have to be plucked.
He said the State has a capacity of tapping 20000 MWs of power and the services of private players from country and abroad will also be involved in it. He said the power potential of the State can’t be fully tapped till the involvement of private players.
He said a policy is being also devised for the construction of Micro projects in the State.
He said the agencies constructing Ratle and other projects on which work has been stopped have been called by the Government to sort out the issue.
Regarding the taking back of the Dul Hasti and Uri Power Projects from NHPC, Dr Singh said that the issue was taken up by him and Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu with Union Power Minister Piyush Goel and he said the modalities for the same will be discussed.
He said accountability will be fixed and transformer repair racket will be broken. He announced amidst thumping of desks that Kashmir will be given 60 MW extra power and added that State is facing Rs 4000 cr power deficit.
On this he was interrupted by NC’s Ali Mohammed Sagar who said that BJP’s coalition partner during electioneering had promised to supply 24 hour power free of cost and the Government was now taking U Turn on that. While pointing out towards the economic survey, he said it has revealed that government has made progress in various sectors. However, Dr Singh said the coalition will work in accordance to CMP.
The Deputy CM was again interrupted by NC’s Devender Rana and Vikar Rasool of Congress on power projects issue saying that the statement given by Deputy Chief Minister was contradictory.
They raised certain points and tried to interrupt his speech repeatedly. However, Minister of Haj, Auqaf and Horticulture, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Basharat Bukhari and Minister of Revenue, Javed Mustafa Mir came to his defence saying that the members should not pose questions during the speech of the Deputy CM but make queries only after he finishes his speech.
Javed Mustafa Mir while pointing towards former Speaker Mr Lone said that he had taught them this and hence being the senior members of the House they should act upon the same principles.
Reiterating the commitment of the Government to hold elections to Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations, Dr Singh said Government has lost Rs 169 crore on account of the same.
He said the cities and towns will be developed and problems of Safai Karamcharis will be solved.
The work on smart cities of Jammu and Srinagar will be started first which will be followed by small cities of Katra and Anantang, he added.
As many as 19 members participated in the discussions who included Nawang Rigzin Jora, Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi, Ajay Nanda, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Vikar Rasool Wani, Javed Hassan Baig, Shakti Parihar, Mubarak Gul, Er Abdul Rashid, Usman Majid, Raja Manzoor Ahmed, Daleep Singh, Altaf Ahmed Wani, Syed Asgar Ali Karbalai, Abdul Rahim Rather, G M Saroori, Dina Nath Bhagat and Kamal Verma.
Later the House passed the demand of grants of Rs 612764.92 lakh.
Meanwhile, intervening during the debate Basharat Bukhari give details of the report on flood like situation in Baramulla. The Minister said that “due to incessant rains, flood like situation has arisen in various areas of district Baramulla.
He said in Pattan Sub-Division due to overflowing of Ferazpora Nallah, Water has entered villages which include Aarampora, Habak Tangoo, Bonechakal, Shale-Bone, Ghund Khwaja-Qasim, Matipora and Trikolbat etc”.
He further stated that though situation in other villages is under control, yet in Aarampora boats have been sent for carrying out rescue measures.
He said flood like situation has also arisen in Trikolbat village but the situation is under control. Meanwhile, 51 thousand sand bags have been arranged and distributed in different units for flood control measures and more sand bags have been arranged to tackle the situation.
In Sangrama Constituency flood water have entered in villages Alibagh, Haigam Radigam, Haretar, Puthhah. Moreover, due to overflowing of water in Nallah Ningle, Trafffic on Shrakwara Wagoora portion of Wagoora Putkha road has been stopped. Similarly, traffic has been temporally stopped near Mir Mohallah Wagoora where diversion of road has got damaged.
In Baramulla constituency flash floods occurred and water entered in village Gutiyar, Khwajabagh and Noor Bagh but the nallah was cleared and water level receded. Due to rains water has over flowed at different places of the National Highway.
The Minister informed that in Rafiabad flood water entered in Nowpora, Nadihal Chijhama, Ladoora but situation is not worse. In village Vullarhama Rohama, 11 families have been shifted to safer places, while as in Dhobi Mohalla Dangiwacha one family has shifted to safer place.
In Gulmarg constituency 7 families have shifted to safer places in Teran village, moreover the traffic has been stopped on Kunzer Bridge.
Land slide has also occurred at Wahidina, Chandoosa, but no loss to property has been reported, the Minister added.
The Minister added that in order to carry out the Relief and Rescue measures all concerned Departments have been mobilized and field functionaries are in position to tackle the situation. A Joint Control Room has been established comprising of representatives of Police, CA&PD, R&B, Flood Control, PDD, Municipal Council, Fire & Emergency Services & Mechanical Engineering Departments with Contact Numbers 01952-234343 and 01952-234841 under the supervision of Joint Director Planning Baramulla.
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