Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: Former Dy Chief Minister of the State and senior Congress leader Tara Chand has demanded that pending claims of the labour class under MGNREGA and other schemes be cleared without any delay, re-instate Tehsildar Khour and punish the guilty after holding thorough probe into the mater.
Addressing Congress rally at Khour Tehsil Headquarters here the former DyCM Tara Chand expressed serious concern over the pending labour claims in Khour block. He said that local labourers were involved in execution of some works of urgent nature under MGNREGA and other schemes in various Panchayats of the Block but the concerned RDD staff/ BDO could not ensure the payments to them. He urged upon the Government that the pending claims of poor people with regard to developmental works should be cleared without any further loss of time and added that Congress always stands for the cause of poor and down trodden people.
He said that the development works in Khour block have come to a grinding halt. Works of all the projects started by previous Govt have been abandoned and the general public is facing problems on account of basic amenities of life such as electricity, drinking water, road connectivity, education, health care etc.
Congress leader said that most of the area of Khour block is hilly and border area and people have been suffering since 1947. Previous NC-Congress Govt had taken decision to provide 5 marla plots to the residents of border area in the safer zones but the present BJP-PDP Govt has shown negative approach towards border area people as they have refused it.
Referring to the suspension of Tehsildar Khour, Ex-DyCM said that he has been made the scapegoat under a conspiracy. He should be re-instated and thorough probe be held. The action be taken against the real culprits.
Ex-DyCM further said that people are fed up with long scheduled and unscheduled power cuts and they are suffering in the scorching heat. Besides there is acute shortage of drinking water in the Kandi belt of Khour block, which has added to the miseries of people. He demanded that the Govt should press into service the water tankers to meet the demand of drinking water. He also demanded that ration cards be issued to the people and smooth supply of ration be ensured.