Rehab Plan for KPs in pipeline, announcement soon
*Will tap Jammu’s full tourism potential
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said today that the money has come (from the Centre) in large numbers in the past but the question is had the required development taken place and declared that the present dispensation has brought transparency in the system and put an end to the corruption so that works are actually executed on the ground.
He was addressing a press conference and replying to queries of the newspersons on Rs 1.08 lakh crore worth budget given to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the Central Government which was recently passed by the Parliament. Click here to watch video
“The money has come (from the Centre) in large numbers during the past but the question is whether required development works were executed. There are law and other agencies in the country which look into where the money pumped by the Central Government had gone in the past. However, we are doing our job sincerely,” Sinha said.
Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Financial Commissioner (Finance) Dr Arun Kumar Mehta and Principal Secretary Information department Rohit Kansal were also present at the press conference among others.
He added that his Government has brought transparency in the System and put an end to corruption.
Asked whether his Government plans to set up an inquiry commission to look where the money pumped by the Centre had gone in the past, Sinha said he had left it to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“My priority is how the development work is speeded up. There is a law prevalent in the country and there are also agencies working. They should be allowed to do their jobs and there is no need to intervene in their working,” Sinha said, adding that priority of the Government is to accelerate development works in the Union Territory.
To a question on media reports suggesting PDP youth leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, arrested by the National Investigation Agency last year, had reportedly paid Rs 5 crore on behalf of his party to Hurriyat Conference to stoke trouble after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, he said he had full faith in the Government agencies and is sure that they will do their work and take their investigation to the logical conclusion.
Regarding another question on the impact of better ties between India and Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha refused a direct answer but said “peace is the key to development everywhere”.
“There is an External Affairs Ministry in the country and I think we should leave this question to it,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor dropped hints that a proper Rehabilitation Plan for migrant Kashmiri Pandits may be in the pipeline as he said a lot has been thought about the community and soon something is going to happen which you haven’t even imagined.
“We are also talking about 6,000 jobs and an equal number of residential accommodation for migrant Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. This is a minute part of rehabilitation of the community in the Valley,” Sinha said.
Responding to a question about linking Prime Minister’s employment package with the overall rehabilitation of Pandits living in exile in the Valley, he said rehabilitation is a different thing altogether.
“These 6,000 jobs for the community were notified earlier but the (recruitment) process got delayed due to various reasons. This is a minute part of the rehabilitation of the community. Our first priority was to complete the process as soon as possible and it has now reached the final stage,” he said.
Sinha said it is not the final package for the community and the Government is doing more for them in the near future. “A lot has been thought about the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits which I do not want to make public today. Shortly, you will get information that something is going to happen which you have not even imagined,” he said.
Asked about a clause in the contract of Pandit employees that they have to leave their residential quarters on retirement, he said, “I have taken note of it and this will be looked into.”
On the welfare measures proposed for border residents who have suffered immensely due to Pakistani shelling over the years, the Lt Governor said 8,000 underground bunkers have been constructed so far for their safety, while 1,200 more such structures are being built during the next financial year.
“There is a provision in the budget for them as well. And if there is a need, more will be done for them,” he said.
Fortunately, he said, the shelling by Pakistan has stopped now.
On spike in Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said the administration is taking necessary measures to counter the challenge.
“We have had a lot of success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a spike in past few days and we are taking necessary measures in this direction,” Sinha said.
He said attempts would be made to scale up the vaccination drive as he urged people to follow the issued COVID-19 guidelines religiously for everyone’s safety.
“Everyone knows what has to be done to safeguard themselves and those around them. People need to follow COVID-19 protocols seriously to control its spread,” he said.
Responding to a question about the impact of the pandemic on the developmental work last year, he said, “It is a reality that the COVID outbreak hit public projects across the globe. It is natural and not man-made virus. Let us wait for that time when developmental works don’t get hit even if there is a natural calamity”.
Sinha said Budget Estimation Allocation and Monitoring System (BEAMS) introduced by the Finance Department has brought transparency in the system and checked corruption.
The Lieutenant Governor thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government for Rs 1,08,621 crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir.
Sinha listed the targets set by the Government for next financial year of 2021-22 as providing road connectivity to 150 unconnected villages, blacktopping of 8000 kms road length, completion of 4500 km road length under Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and pot-hole free roads connecting district headquarters, tehsils and blocks in Jammu and Srinagar.
“This budget, which was passed in the both the houses of Parliament, is more than the previous budget and is meant for 1.30 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir. Bihar, with a population of 12 crore, has the annual budget of over Rs 2 lakh core and Uttar Pradesh, with over 20 crore population, has got 5 lakh crore budget,” Sinha said, emphasizing that the budget is meant to rebuild economy, create jobs and secure the Union Territory for the future based on the Prime Minister’s vision.
Sinha said Jammu region possess huge tourism potential which would be explored to the fullest and assured that there will be no discrimination with any part of the Union Territory in the development.
He also said the focus of his administration is to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions and had taken necessary measures to empower them like grants to the tune of Rs 200 crore for newly elected District Development Councils (DDCs) and doubling of funds for each Panchayat.
“Jammu has a lot of potential for tourism and attempts will be made to tap its potential to the fullest,” Sinha said.
Replying to a question about tourist places in Jammu region lacking facilities for the holiday-makers, he said “legacy cannot be changed in one day… I have myself visited many places and noticed lack of proper infrastructure. We will utilize the massive budget sanctioned by the Central Government for creation of proper facilities and tapping of unexplored areas.”
He said the tourism sector has got Rs 786 crore provision in the budget for the next financial year, which is more than Rs 509 crore compared to the current financial year.
“This amount will be utilized without any discrimination. Where there is a possibility and did not get the attention previously would be the core focus area,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the prominent tourist destination would also be given added focus.
“We will ensure that there will be no discrimination and the development will take place everywhere. We have already strengthened the Panchayati Raj Institutions and through ‘Back to Village’ programme reached out to the people at their doorsteps,” he said.
“We have full faith in DDC members and they will decide the work to be started on priority in their districts. They would get a grant of Rs 200 crore – 10 crore for each of the 20 DDCs — in addition to the district plan,” he said, adding similarly, the Block Development Councils would get Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 crore have been kept for construction of offices for DDC and BDCs wherever required.
On the recent protest by DDC members over the issue of protocol and monthly honorarium, he said “they are happy (after meeting him) and they will get the revised paper (Warrant of Precedence).”
He said there will be no payment for works on just papers. “The treasury bill will not get cleared unless there is tendering, sanction of work and geo tagging of the completed job. Some people have trouble with it.”
Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, who was also present, said the complaints that no work is taking place have come down drastically over the past year but at the same time the expectations of the people have also gone up.
The Lt Governor said the administration is working to ensure the release of funds for the upcoming projects with the start of the next financial year in April.
“The administration will keep a watch but we have also ensured over the past couple of months that the people have also an eye on the developmental works going on in their areas,” he said, adding the Government would ensure that the projects are completed in stipulated time.
He said the biggest difference is that each penny is being accounted. “How much money has come and where is being utilized is being monitored. Everyone can see it through Budget Estimation and Allocation Monitoring system (BEAMS).”
The Lieutenant Governor said the focus of the new budget is rural development, education, women empowerment, agriculture and horticulture, Panchayati Raj Institutions, tourism, industry and sports.
“I feel the budget will pave the way for J-K to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) and march with the rest of the country in overall development,” he said.
Financial Commissioner Dr Arun Kumar Mehta said the administration had brought such a type of transparency in the system which was never there in the past.
“There will be no payment till geo-tagging of the completed work and the payment is directly transferred into the bank account of the contractor,” Mehta said, assuring that the money allocated to Jammu and Kashmir in the budget would be utilized on the ground.
“We have completed 8,000 projects in 2018-19, 10,500 projects this year and planning to complete 16,000 projects in the coming financial year,” Sinha added.
He said his administration is planning to engage 15 lakh boys and girls in sports activities.
He said Government is also aiming to strengthen the road network, improve distribution and transmission to ensure 24×7 quality electricity to the people in the next two years and 100 percent saturation under ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ in 13 districts of the Union Territory to be completed this year.
Highlighting the significance of budget 2021-22 for Jammu and Kashmir approved by the Central Government, Sinha said there is a quantum jump in the allocation of the historic budget in all sectors.
“A comprehensive mechanism is being laid down for engaging 15 lakh boys and girls in different sports activities in adherence to all the COVID related SOPs for promotion and growth of the sports sector,” he added.
Asked about any provision for welfare of sportsmen who have won laurels for Jammu and Kashmir in the past, he said it is a thing of the past that they were not getting anything.
“They will get and have faith in it,” he said.
Financial Commissioner, Finance department, Arun Kumar Mehta said the administration is working on a new policy as no Government job was given under sports category for the last 15 years.
“There was a Government policy to provide jobs under sports category but none was given any job during the last 15 years. There was a stay by the high court and about a fortnight back, the old policy was done away. We are working on a new policy which will be in accordance with the court guidelines and will be out in next one month,” Mehta said.
On the Power generation, distribution and transmission, Sinha said the Government is making untiring efforts to provide 24×7 quality electricity to the people of J&K in next two years.
“The Government is reaching out to the unconnected habitations to provide electricity through the grid,” he said.
Giving a comparative analysis of the Budget for the year 2021-22 vis-a-vis the previous Budget, the Lt Governor made a sector-wise comparison.
Speaking on the budget allocation for Jal Shakti Department, the Lt Governor remarked that with the quantum jump of Rs 5102 cr, taking the total to Rs 6346 cr, the Government is eyeing to achieve the target under Prime Minister’s ambitious ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ programme within the timeframe.
“Two districts were covered this year, while 100 per cent saturation under ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ in 13 districts will be completed in 2021. Rest of the five districts would be covered next year,” he said.
Working in this direction, he said the village Action Plan and 4048 ‘Paani Samitis’ (water committees) have already been established, he added.
He said the provision of Rs 2008 cr has been kept for Agriculture and Horticulture sectors, which is Rs 695 cr more than the previous Budget’s allocation. For Rural Development, Rs 4817 cr is allocated, which is Rs 342 cr more.
Speaking on the Health and Medical Education sector, Sinha said this sector witnessed major transformation in the last two years. And, for the year 2021-22, the sector has an allocation of Rs 1456 cr , around Rs 190 cr more than the previous one.
Rs 120 cr increase for the Power sector takes its total allocation to Rs 2728 cr. However, approved projects worth Rs 54,000 crore to generate 3500 Megawatt in three to four years to make J&K power surplus is a separate entity, he said.
The Lt Governor said the allocation of Rs 2710 cr for Housing and Urban Development sector, a steep hike of Rs 1432 cr from the previous Budget, will give a determined push for the development of the Jammu and Srinagar into model cities, besides the development of other municipalities as well.
Road and Bridges Sector gets Rs 4089 crore, an increase of Rs 467 crore, Social Security Sector receives Rs 174 crore, which is a hike of Rs 59 crore, Education sector has been allocated Rs 1873 crore, an increase of Rs 523 crore, he said.
Similarly, the total allocation of Rs 648 cr for Industries and Commerce sector, which is Rs 291 crore more than the previous, will generate more employability and bring more investment, he said, adding an amount of Rs 200 cr has been kept for Youth empowerment.
Underscoring the targets set by the Government aimed at creating more livelihood opportunities and accelerating the development process, the Lt Governor said that as many as 25,000 youth of the UT have been provided with financial support under various schemes to start their own businesses and this year, we aim to double the opportunities for the youth.
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