Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that if the concept of allotment of five marlas of land for border people remained successful in Hiranagar tehsil, the Government will initiate it in other areas of the border belt of the State.
Addressing a meeting with officers of district Kathua to assess the progress of various development works in the district, Dr Singh urged the authorities to expedite the process of allotment of five marlas of land to border people in Hiranagar tehsil as has been sanctioned already.
He took strong exception over the delay in transfer of land by the Revenue Department and urged the District Development Commissioner, Kathua Ramesh Kumar to pursue the file with lying with Commissioner Secretary Revenue at an earliest.
Earlier MLA Hiranagar, Kuldeep Raj said that delaying tactics by the Revenue Department has led to resentment among the border people as the announcement regarding the allotment of five marlas of land was made by the Union Minister last year.
The Union Minister issued on spot directives to the concerned authorities that the process in this regard should be completed by the next week.
Dr Jitendra Singh also gave clear cut instructions to the authorities concerned that entire Kathua district should be electrified under Deen Dayal Upadyaya Rural Electrification Yojna by March 2017. In this regard D C Kathua, Ramesh Kumar gave an assurance to Union Minister that under the scheme entire rural belt in the district will be electrified by that time.
The Union Minister, while showing keen interest for development of border belt in the State said steps are afoot to promote border tourism under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) to generate revenue.
On the insistence of MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia, Dr Jitendra Singh announced release of Rs 25 lakh from MP LAD Fund for the development of ponds, play grounds and Irrigation kulls for Kathua and said that in future more funds will be provided for the same.
He stressed that the administration and public representatives should work in tandem and there should be total cooperation and coordination in this regard. Expressing concern over delay in construction works, he stressed the administration to become proactive saying “if you are actually working the projects will not be delayed”.
Expressing surprise over the explanation given by the concerned engineer of PDD that the Department needs Rs one crore for augmentation of PDD workshop in Kathua for repairing of transformers, Dr Singh said that after the announcement of Rs 80,000 crore package this is no excuse to say that funds constraint is a problem.
He urged the authorities not to depend for the restoration of transformers on MP LAD fund and the PDD should repair them from its own resources. He said the MP LAD fund is utilized in those areas where there are no other resources and this fund is not meant to fill the budget of State Government.
He also took the authorities to task for abandoning the electricity work in Kathua on the plea given by them that the company which was allotted Rs 126 crore project has left. “This is no excuse that company has left the work, he said, adding if company will not be traced for months together does it mean the work will be pending”, he added.
Dr Singh said that delaying tactics and cancellation of tenders will give an impression that the administration has other considerations in allotment of work.
He also took strong exception in delaying the tendering process of inter State connectivity Krindya Gandyal bridge in Kathua township over River Rawi after the local MLA brought the issue in his notice and directed the authorities not to delay the same further as it will give a wrong signal.
Dr Singh also gave instruction for starting work on Nagri -Pali road and said that Centre expects the State will also work in the same spirit in which the Central Government agencies are working. He urged the DC to note that MP has taken serious view over delaying the construction process of the road.
Dr Singh also gave instructions to authorities to expedite tendering process of Dreamland Park in Kathua for which he has released Rs 40 lakh from his MP LAD Fund while Rs 10 lakh were released by MLA from his CDF. The estimated cost of park is Rs 85 lakh.
He said the work on construction of bunkers and lavatories in border belt has started. The Minister also announced construction of lavatories near ATMs in the district.
The Minister was informed that Jan Dhan Yojna has achieved 100 percent target in the district. Terming the PM’s Bhima Surksha Yojna a revolutionary concept of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Dr Singh said “with the launch of this yojna we have moved from a non pensionable society to pensionable society”. He said the awareness needs to be created for the same.
He said five battalions of Indian Reserve Police (IRP) will be created in the State. Maintaining that by December 31 interviews for appointment in all Central government departments will be abolished, he said some State governments have also given a good response to this policy.
Dr Singh said Rs 450 crore have been earmarked in recent package for hiking the perks of VDCs and SPOs in the State.
He acknowledged the message of thanks from different parts for the hike in the relief of Jammu hill migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants.
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