Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 2: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today that Jammu and Kashmir will be getting Rs 11,000 crores worth Plan including the Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) for current financial year of 2015-16 even as he pointed out gross irregularities in implementation of MG-NREGA scheme in Ramban district and called for proper implementation of the CSSs.
In major relief for remote districts of Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda, the Central Government has approved special package of Rs 103 crores to improve power infrastructure including installation of new transformers, electricity lines etc.
Announcements to this effect were made by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh in the District Development Board (DDB) meetings of Udhampur and Ramban held at Udhampur today in two separate sessions of morning and afternoon.
Addressing the meeting, Mufti Sayeed pointed out that there will be no shortage of funds for Jammu and Kashmir for development and other purposes during the current financial year as the State would be getting Rs 11,000 crores worth Plan this year including the CSSs apart from funds under various other heads and schemes. He lauded new pattern of financing adopted by the Central Government through NITI Aayog and hoped that it would benefit the State in a long way.
Referring to some queries of public representatives in the two DDB meetings, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is getting its due share of Central funds and declared that number of development works and projects would be undertaken in hands during current financial year of 2015-16 duly approved by the DDBs.
According to official sources, Sayeed announced set of mechanism for monitoring the developmental works saying the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) would play major role in monitoring implementation of development works in the State.
Sources said the Chief Minister noted irregularities in implementation of MG-NREGA scheme in Ramban district saying out of 45,000 job card holders, only 2250 took the work.
“This was required to be inquired into as despite issuance of 45,000 job cards to the people under MG-NREGA scheme, why job was allotted to only 2250 people’’? he asked noting that all this was done during previous regime.
It may be mentioned here that MG-NREGA scheme has been mired into controversies and scams at various places and possibility that funds might have been drawn against some names can’t be ruled out.
Calling for upholding sanctity of the DDBs, Sayeed said it can be done only if the works approved in the Boards are taken up strictly in time bound manner. Noting that the DDBs were formed to act as single line administration, he regretted that over the years their purpose has been diluted to some extent and called for reviving the DDBs to their old form.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who holds the charge of Power Development Department apart from Housing and Urban Development announced in the DDB meeting of Ramban that the Central Government has announced package of Rs 103 crores for three hilly and remote districts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, which were part of erstwhile Doda district, to upgrade power infrastructure in these three districts.
“The Centre has announced special package of Rs 103 crores for the three mountain locked districts to improve and upgrade power infrastructure there including installation of new transformers and power supply lines and cover the uncovered areas with electricity supply,’’ he disclosed and said the Central package would go long way in improving power infrastructure in the three districts.
In his remarks, the Chief Minister voiced concern over inadequate utilization of funds for development purposes saying the funds must be used expeditiously and properly so that development was visible on the grounds.
Declaring that the officers will be made accountable for implementation of all programmes and schemes and utilization of funds under their jurisdiction, Mufti Sayeed asserted that performance of the officers will be judged on the basis on implementation of programmes on the ground.
He regretted that track record of the State in utilization of allocated funds was not up to the mark, which has resulted into deficit in key sectors of development. He noted with deep concern that utilization of funds by the State Government under the CSSs was just around 40 per cent during past few years.
An official handout said Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister for Health and Medical Education Lal Singh, Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, Minister of State for Finance Pawan Gupta, Member Parliament Shamsher Singh Manhas, MLC Sham Lal Bhagat, Vice-Chairman Kissan Advisory Board Daljeet Singh, MLA Ramnagar R S Pathania, MLA Chenani Dina Nath Bhagat and MLA Reasi Ajay Nanda were also present.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to frequently tour the remote and hilly areas to monitor the development works pertaining to their departments so that better results could be ensured on the ground with no compromise on the quality of works. He hoped that the officers would put in sincere efforts in achieving optimum results.
He said regular follow-up meetings would be taken by the respective Chairmen of the District Development Boards to monitor the physical and financial achievements registered by the districts.
To bring transparency in the implementation of the developmental programmes, the Chief Minister exhorted upon the officers to take the Legislators of their respective areas into confidence by sharing the details of various Government-sponsored schemes with them.
He asked the public representatives to monitor the development works and welfare schemes and send feedback to the Government. “If anything goes wrong on ground in implementation, apprise us so that corrective measures are immediately taken”, Sayeed said.
He said huge liabilities have been created during the past few years as works have been executed without plan provision. He said such a practice should be done away forthwith.
Sayeed also called for timely submission of the utilization certificates against Centrally Sponsored Schemes, MPLADS and schemes falling under the Finance Commission Award. He said delay in submission of the utilization certificates causes unnecessary delay in release of funds. “The DDCs should ensure timely submission of the utilization certificates to ensure regular flow of funds for development,” he said.
Mufti Sayeed observed that while officers are proactive in executing the works but they need to invest in translating the ideas into reality.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the inordinate delay in land acquisition cases particularly the ones pending in the courts. He directed to the concerned to pursue the cases vigorously to expedite work on various incomplete developmental projects.
On the issue of dearth of staff particularly in health and education sectors raised by the legislators, Sayeed said, “now that the new Recruitment Policy has been put into implementation, I am confident that the vacancies will be filled up at the earliest”.
The Chief Minister, who is also Incharge Planning Minister, announced an outlay of Rs 166.32 crore for Udhampur for the year 2015-16 and Rs 116.27 crore for district Ramban. He said eight schemes worth Rs 52 crores have been taken up in the Udhampur district under NABARD during the year 2014-15.
Stressing on launching job oriented subjects, Mufti Sayeed laid emphasis on introducing such courses at college and school levels which have better employment prospects.
The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 56 lakh to be kept at the disposal of the DDC Ramban to be paid as land compensation for development of Government Degree College, Banihal.
The meeting also was attended by Principal Secretary, Planning B R Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary Power Development, Sandeep Kumar Naik, Commissioner Secretary Housing & Urban Development, Bipul Pathak, Commissioner Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation Dheeraj Kumar Gupta, Commissioner Secretary School Education, Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner Secretary PWD (R&B), Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr M K Bhandari, Commissioner Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Parvez Malik and Secretary to Chief Minister M H Malik besides Heads of Departments and Chief Engineers were present at the meeting.
Earlier, DDC Udhampur Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and DC Ramban Farooq Ahmad Shah gave detailed presentations on various projects and proposals for the development of the districts.
The major decisions taken in DDB meeting include, work on double-laning of Ramnagar road to start soon, Rs 12 lakh for completion of three buildings of Maternity Hospital Udhampur, Irrigation Department to prepare DPR for Kailash Kund Micro-hydel project, Foot bridge/suspension bridge from Majalta to Majalta Morh, expeditious construction of ITI College at Ramnagar, Raja Ram Singh Sports Stadium to be developed by J&K State Sports Council, revival of Industrial Estate at Ramnagar and Majalta, construction of Forest Rest House at Basantgarh, macadamisation and upgradation of Bainsa Morh to Muttal road, Charyai Muttal to be developed under pilgrim tourism, WD to prepare DPR for road from Patnitop to Mantalai, Government higher secondary school boys and girls in Udhampur city to be developed as model schools, DC Udhampur to explore feasibility of additional land for establishment of solid waste management plant, site to be identified for public park in the Udhampur city, up-gradation of Dak Bungalow, Ramban to be undertaken by JKTDC, JKPCC to take up construction of approach road to Filtration Plant, Govt Higher Secondary School Ramban to be developed as a model school with all the requisite facilities, ANM School to start functioning at old DC office within one month, Rs 60 lakh for restoration of Nachalana-Mahu Mangit road, Critical Care Ambulance for Banihal, Boys Higher Secondary School Banihal to be developed as Model School, Kendriya Vidyalaya to be established at Gool, tourist Resort to be established at Daggan Top and Rs 50 lakh for college infrastructure development at Gool.
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