Govt promoting Jammu, Srinagar as engines of economic growth: Jora

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 14: Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora today said that Government is making  all out efforts to promote  twin cities of the State  as engines of economic growth through improvement in the quality of urban life by facilitating creation of quality urban infrastructure.
Replying to the discussion on demand of grants of Housing, Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Departments, the Minister said, “in order to improve the civic facilities in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and other small and medium towns of the State under various schemes  an amount of Rs 30 crore is being utilized during the current financial year for construction and improvement of lanes, drains, deep drains, providing of street lights, development of Bus Addas, construction of community/town halls and sanitation facilities etc and Rs 33 crore have been proposed for the next financial year for the purpose.
The Minister said under Urban Transport, funds are being provided to Srinagar and Jammu Development Authorities for construction and upgradation of bus terminals and other mini bus stands to overcome transport related problems of Srinagar and Jammu cities at the earliest.
“Under JNNURM 108 projects with a cumulative cost of Rs 1312.66 crore are under execution in the State for the development of infrastructure in capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu and in major towns of the State”, he said, adding “two sewerage projects for Jammu and Srinagar at a total project cost of Rs 129.23 crore and Rs 132.92 crore are at present under execution”.
In parallel to JNNURM, the Minister said that two schemes were launched for other cities and towns not covered as mission cities under JNNURM.  He said that under UIDSSMT against the total sanctioned project cost of Rs 398.15 crore for 8 town of the Jammu division and 5 towns of Kashmir division, an amount of Rs 348.17 crore has been released by Centre till date.
Mr Jora said, “steps are being taken for strengthening the urban local self-Governments by conducting Local Bodies’ elections for enabling them to discharge their functions effectively”, adding “the department is also framing housing policy, create legal, institutional and procedural changes to encourage investment in housing sector and to facilitate creation of adequate housing stock etc”.
The Minister said under 12th Five Year Plan the Government will focus on providing affordable housing and better civic amenities through participatory mode to cater to the ever increasing influx of rural population towards urban estimates.
Under Solid Waste Management in cities and towns, the Minister said that 12 Solid Waste Management projects (7 in Jammu and 5 in Kashmir division) are under implementation in the State at a cost of Rs 25.34 crore. He said that 3 projects at Sunderbani, Doda and Bhaderwah have been completed while as rest are under process of execution.
Mr Jora said, “the conservation and management of Dal and Nigeen Lake project costing Rs 298.76 crore is under execution since September 2005 against which Rs 218.34 crore have been incurred up to December 2012 and the project is likely to be completed by September 2013”, adding “three sewerage schemes viz Sewerage Project Talab Tilloo, Jammu, Sewerage Project  Brari Numbal  Srinagar and Sewerage Project Khushalsar  Srinagar are under execution under JNNURM”.
Earlier, while participating in the discussion on the grants, National Panthers Party MLA, Harshdev Singh said, “it is unfortunate that the Urban Local Bodies polls, which ought to have been held in March-April 2010 were not conducted till date and this is sheer violation of the law enactment by the State”, adding “since March-April 2010 the Government is only issuing statements that Local Bodies polls would be held shortly and there is no seriousness in giving practical shape to the announcements”.
“The Government is ruling the local bodies by proxy that is why it didn’t want election to be conducted otherwise there is no justification in delaying elections especially when the Government of India has withheld the funds”, the NPP MLA said.
Alleging that Jammu Municipal Corporation has been deprived of permissible number of wards, Mr Singh said, “this House had enacted law for constitution of separate Finance Commission but till date no step has been initiated to put in place the Commission, which has a great role to play for equitable distribution of funds”.
He also alleged discrimination in the conservation of the lakes of Jammu and asked, “what is the justification behind keeping Surinsar, Mansar and Dalsar lakes out of the purview of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority”.
Hakim Mohd Yaseen also raised the issue of discrimination with certain areas in the urban development sector and expressed concern over inordinate delay in holding Urban Local Bodies polls. Prof Chaman Lal Gupta expressed concern over non-implementation of 74th Constitutional Amendment in the State and asked the Government to clear its stand on the issue.
CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami said that while carrying out urban development Government should lay focus on the urban poor. He also laid stress on studying the West Bengal Housing Model to meet the housing needs of the urban poor.
Expressing concern over inordinate delay in holding of Urban Local Bodies polls, Mr Tarigami said, “power must go to the people and Government must explain the reasons behind delay in this regard”.
Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA, Ashwani Sharma alleged discrimination with some Municipal Committees like that of Bishnah and said that meager funds were being given to the Committee despite repeated requests. He demanded Urban Local Bodies polls without any further delay and bringing lakes of Jammu under the ambit of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority.
Balwant Singh Mankotia, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, Ashok Kumar, Irfan Shah, Er Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Prof Garu Ram, Bimla Luthra, Ajaz Ahmed Jan, G M Saroori, Yashpaul Kundal, Mohammad Ashraf, Krishan Chander, Peer Afaq and Aga Syed Ruhullah also participated in the discussion.
Later, the members withdrew the cut motions they had moved after the satisfactory reply by the Minister and the House passed the grants by voice vote.

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