Call on LG, seek intervention
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 18: Former MLCs are running from pillar to post as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) released by the Government before the abolition of the Upper House in October this year has lapsed while the developmental works had been started under some CDF schemes in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir and estimates for others had also been sanctioned for starting of work.
The lapsing of funds due to conversion of the same to other heads by the concerning Administrative Department has resulted into lapse of funds due to which all the developmental schemes taken up in hand in different areas of UT hampered and payments of contractors worth crores of rupees got blocked.
According to sources before the abolition of State Legislative Council in October this year, the Government had released Rs 1.50 crore under CDF for each MLC of the UT in first week of the September this year to be utilized for the construction of development works in various areas on priority basis.
However, the money could not be released due to the announcement of Block Development Council (BDC) elections and imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) due to which taking up of work in hand was delayed under various schemes, sources added.
They said that lapse of funds was due to technical hitch but it does not mean that the developmental projects should suffer. The funds were released before October 31 the day when the Upper House of J&K Legislature was abolished and the works were delayed due to announcement of Model Code of Conduct. This way the contractors whose money got blocked are suffering badly, sources added.
There should be no problem to Government in revalidating the projects announced already so that the works get completed, sources added.
To highlight this issue a three member delegation of ex MLCs and BJP leaders called on Lt. Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu here, today and apprised him of the problem. The delegation which discussed the issue threadbare with him demanded that the funds be released immediately so that works don’t suffer.
The delegation included Advocate Ramesh Arora, Ajay Bharti and Charanjit Singh Khalsa. The LG assured the delegation that he will look into the matter and take appropriate action so that the works which are under execution should not suffer, Arora told the Excelsior.
The delegation also showed its grave concern over the missing of machinery and equipments worth crores of rupees at Jammu Super Specialty Hospital as reported by a team of PMGSY in its report after visiting Hospital recently. The delegation demanded action against the culprits and immediate recovery of the machinery.
Ajay Bharti also demanded that the employees of Upper House be rehabilitated properly as they have no office to sit and work.
Khalsa sought establishment of Guru Nanak Dev Ji chair in Jammu University to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and organizing of seminars in this regard.
Showing concern over lack of medicines in exigencies in Government Medical Colleges, the MLC said that the free drug policy is not being implemented in the UT and the Medical Corporation is not able to purchase medicines for emergency purposes resulting in the suffering to poor patients.
The issue of Bar agitation was also raised during the meeting and it was strongly demanded that the building of PDC at Janipur be immediately handed over to judiciary for utilization as Registration Office as was promised by Advisor to Governor, K K Sharma recently. Besides, the MLCs strongly advocated for payment of pension to Advocates after the age of 65 as is prevalent in Kerala State and the stipend for lawyers during start of their profession.
The delegation suggested the LG that vehicles purchased by DG Police for legislators on the directives of then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayed which are lying idle in Civil Secretariat now be sold to former legislators on depreciation value.
The developmental issues of Jammu including starting of Jammu Gondola, construction of Tawi lake and promotion of tourism in the State were also highlighted by the delegation.
Moreover, the ex-MLCs drew the attention of LG towards their plight and showed concern about the officers who don’t treat ex-legislators properly and stressed that this practice should be avoided as they are public figures.
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