*5 new GMCs to be completed by 2018
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 24: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today announced several significant decisions aimed at giving increase to development works in the State, boost electricity supply in erstwhile Doda district, improve “worst condition” of Batote-Kishtwar National Highway and make offices of the Divisional Commissioners and District Development Commissioners (DDCs) as an “effective coordination office”.
This and several other important decisions were announced by Mehbooba Mufti while chairing a meeting of top officers of civil and police administration in Jammu for more than four hours during which she reviewed all aspects of situation in the Jammu region including developmental works, law and order situation, arrangements for Shri Amarnath ji yatra, condition of National Highways and power scenario.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Chief Minister has directed for setting up of Consultative Committee in the Planning and Development Department for in-house appraisal of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of all developmental projects. The steps will ensure early clearance of the projects and give boost to the development.
The Consultative Committee will be headed by the Administrative Secretary, Planning and Development Department, which will hold regular meetings for in-house appraisal of the DPRs.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of delivery, Mehbooba took a dig at the administration saying there was huge gap in decision-taking and their implementation on the ground, thereby, clearly indicating that benefits of welfare and developmental schemes was not reaching out to the people.
She called upon the Government officials to put their act together and make the things move fast so that benefits of development reach out to every nook and corner of the State as there was no shortage of resources, both in the State plan and Prime Minister’s Development Programme. She added that the funds should be utilized effectively and within the set time-frame.
She announced that ‘Contract Committee’ of the Government will meet every fortnight in future to clear developmental projects.
“This will avoid any delay in clearance of developmental related projects, which earlier had to wait for several weeks or even months for clearance from the `Contract Committee’. However, with the Panel now scheduled to meet every fortnight, it would pave the way for early clearance of the projects subject to fulfillment of all formalities.
Mehbooba announced that campuses of all five new Government Medical College will be completed by 2018 i.e. by two years or so from now onwards. Foundation stone for construction of three new Medical Colleges at Anantnag, Rajouri and Baramulla was laid in April by Union Minister for Health and Medical Education Jagat Prakash Nadda in the presence of Mehbooba and State Health Minister Bali Bhagat while foundation stone of two other Medical Colleges-Doda and Kathua, which were delayed due to hurdles in land acquirement, was expected to laid shortly.
She said the launch of five new Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir would reduce burden on two existing GMCs.
Another significant decision announced by the Chief Minister was formalization of an “effective coordination office” between the Divisional Commissioners and District Development Commissioners (DDCs).
“An institution of the Divisional Commissioners and DDCs will be formalized as an “effective coordination office”. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu will coordinate with all 10 DDCs of Jammu (the Deputy Commissioners) while the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir will have liaison with 12 DDCs of Kashmir and Ladakh regions to form “effective coordination office,” sources said.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 95 crores for up-gradation of Batote-Kishtwar National Highway, which was in worst condition and was adversely affecting flow of tourists to picturesque valley of Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and surroundings.
While the Union Ministry for Roads and Surface Transport headed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had announced construction of new National Highway from Batote to Kishtwar via Sudh Mahadev and Pul Doda, the State Government (till construction of the new Highway) wants to repair the existing one not only for the tourists but also for benefit of the people living in Doda and Kishtwar districts.
The Chief Minister announced release of Rs 100 crore for clearing liabilities under SDRF and asked all Departments to submit Utilization Certificates under the SDRF within 15 days.
Announcing up-gradation of Khillani Grid Station to improve power supply position in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, she said this was long pending demand of the people and hoped that this will improve electricity supply in remote areas of three districts.
The Chief Minister declared that, henceforth, all new Government buildings will go vertical instead of spreading horizontally, which consumes precious land resources. Further, she said, all new office complexes will have provision of garbage disposal, rain water harvesting and solar energy.
Under Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA), Mehbooba announced launch of ‘Tatkal Services’ and announced that all District Development Commissioners will have dedicated cell phone number for receiving public grievances. She announced that post of Tehsildar at any place will not be kept vacant beyond 15 days.
She called for judicious use of human resource and capacity building of staff to be done to make best use of their potentialities and capabilities.
An official handout said:
the Chief Minister gave a detailed insight into the governance initiatives and good practices which can bring a positive change at the grassroots level. She made it clear that her priority is the people and not politics or power.
“As long as I am here I would spend every day in mitigating the sufferings of the people,” she said and added that she would like her officers to become partners in this enterprise of hope so that the people get to feel the change.
Mehbooba said people have lot of expectations from the present Government and it is the responsibility of the Government functionaries to come upto their expectations.
“The Ministers shouldn’t confine themselves to their constituencies or a particular region, but reach out to the people in every nook and corner of the State to mitigate the sufferings of the people,” she said adding; “Similarly, I would like my officers at various levels to reach out to the people and redress their grievances and problems effectively.”
She instructed the officials to resolve the issues of public concern within the set time-frame. “Take timely action on issues of public importance, even by exercising suomoto powers, if required with humanitarian approach,” she said and added that the decisions taken in the District Development Board meetings have to be implemented at a faster pace.
Asking officers to adopt systematic approach in solving public issues and ensuring speedy redress of their grievances, Mehbooba said the people are her eyes and ears, “and they acquaint me about the ground level realities on daily basis.”
She asked the Government officials to work with focussed attention on the programmes related to women, youth and disadvantageous sections of the society. “The officers should work fearlessly with proactive and pro-people approach so that people feel the change,” she said adding; “If the officers face any problems, they can freely interact with me, if they feel that there are long pending issues they can come to me and get those issues sorted out.”
Asking officers to lead from the front in reaching out to the people in mitigating their problems, the Chief Minister said the institution of District Administration and Block Administration will be strengthened and made effective to ensure that the fruits of development and welfare schemes reach the beneficiaries at the grassroots level. She also called for establishing an effective grievance redress mechanism at the district level.
The Chief Minister called for making judicious and effective use of professionally qualified human resource as also the capacity building of the existing staff to make best use of their capabilities and professional training.
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress the flagship institutional projects including AIIMS Jammu, five new Nursing Colleges coming up at Kishtwar, Udhampur, Poonch, Kathua and Jammu. She also reviewed the progress of other health institutions coming up in the State including Trauma Hospitals, District Hospitals, Model Hospitals and Paramedical Training Institutions.
The Chief Minister asked the Health Department to firm up an implementable action plan for spending Rs 900 crore available under the Prime Minister’s Development Programme in next 4 years.
In the Education sector, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of IIT, IIM, IIMC and Degree Colleges coming up at various places in Jammu region. The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of new Polytechnics coming up at Udhampur, Doda, Reasi, Kishtwar, Poonch, Kathua and Samba.
In tourism sector, the Chief Minister called for identifying two villages in each district to be developed as new niche tourist spots. She also called for using local festivals as a tool to promote tourism. She also reviewed the progress of ropeway projects in Jammu as also the progress of work on various tourist circuits in the region. She called for creating local economic stakes in the development of tourism.
The Chief Minister took a detailed review of the power and water supply position. She asked the concerned Departments to ensure adequate availability of electricity and drinking water in view of the hot weather conditions in the region.
The meeting was informed that 623 road projects have been taken up for execution under PMGSY in Jammu region, besides work is also in progress on upgradation of Satwari-Kunjwani road. A major bridge spanning 2 kms is coming up at a cost of Rs 200 crore in Akhnoor under CRF.
Emphasizing upon strict implementation of the rule of law, Mehbooba called for retrieving public spaces from encroachers and pedestrian pathways to allow better management of traffic. She also suggested additional manpower in traffic wing of the police for smooth movement of vehicles. “Traffic management has emerged as a real challenge and drastic steps are required to get rid of the menace of frequent traffic breakdowns,” she added.
The Chief Minister highlighted the need to inculcate traffic discipline, in particular related to roadside parking, use of helmets for both driver and pillion, wearing of seat-belts and barring use of cell phones while driving. She also called for better management of street vendors so that they earn their livelihood without creating traffic hassles and problems in movement of general public. She also reviewed the progress of work on multi-level parking lots in Jammu.
On the law and order front the Chief Minister called for taking legal action against the miscreants irrespective of their religious or political affiliations. “The law enforcing agencies have to be extra-cautious in dealing with the situation in Jammu region which has a mixed population,” she said.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of various projects in horticulture sector and tribal affairs department.
Regarding Skill Develop-ment Mission, the Chief Minister observed the things were not moving at the desired pace. She asked the Deputy Commissioners to devise area-specific skill modules for their respective areas to make the initiative more productive.
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