Guv reviews BDC poll process
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 7: Governor Satya Pal Malik today held a situation-cum-security review meeting with the Advisors and the Chief Secretary in which he directed that the Home Department’s advisory asking tourists to leave the Valley should be lifted from October 10.
The meeting was also attended by the Principal Secretaries of Planning and Housing & Urban Development Departments.
Malik has been holding such meetings on a daily basis for 2 hours generally from 6 to 8 pm each day since August 5. Initially, the meetings focussed on reviewing the security scenario following the imposition of restrictions after Constitutional changes that were made. For the past six weeks, all the security restrictions were removed in most parts of J&K, the Governor has been focussing on bringing life back to normal.
Some of the major decisions taken during the past in the review meetings include reopening of Higher Secondary Schools; Colleges and Universities; restarting public transport; opening additional travel counters at TRC Srinagar; 25 internet kiosks in each district to facilitate the public and Government departments and monitoring attendance in Government offices, etc.
In today’s meeting the Governor was briefed about the BDC elections. He was informed that there is active interest in the BDC elections and most of the seats of Chairpersons of BDCs would be filled. All AROs and AEROs have been provided mobile phone facility to ensure smooth conduct of elections. Nomination papers were accepted even today.
Malik was informed that as BDC elections were party based, the delegations of parties whose leaders are in jail are being allowed to meet party presidents once, so that they can take a decision on elections and authorise someone to approve candidates.
He was also briefed about the progress in apple procurement which has crossed 850 tonnes and worth Rs 3.25 crores. Some changes in the rates of apple are being made which will be announced shortly.
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