Several key posts of officers too lying vacant
Functioning suffering, decisions on key issues pending
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 21: The functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority is suffering immensely as administration has not paid any serious attention towards appointment of new Chairperson and one Member during the past over one year. Moreover, several key posts of the officers are lying vacant in the Authority, which otherwise is vested with the responsibility of regulating water resources across the Union Territory.
Former Chairman of Central Water Commission G S Jha was appointed Chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority on October 22, 2020 by the Government in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 139 of the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2020.
Similarly, in the month of April 2021, the Government appointed A Paramesham, Chairman Krishna River Management Board and Kishore Chandra Naik, former Chairman, Central Ground Water Board as Members of the Authority.
G S Jha completed his tenure on attaining the age of 65 years in the month of January 2022 while as A Paramesham resigned after few months because of some personal reasons. At present, there is only one Member—Kishore Chandra Naik, who in the absence of Chairperson and another Member is not in a position to take any decision.
Not only the posts of Chairperson and one Member, even several posts of staff are lying vacant thereby further hampering the functioning of the Authority, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “in the month of October last year a committee was constituted by the General Administration Department for recommending to the Government the names of persons eligible for the posts of Chairperson and Member of the Authority but still no headway has been made as a result of which Authority remains headless since January last year”.
Though Administrative Council on March 30, 2021 approved the proposal of the Jal Shakti Department to create 19 posts in the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority to enhance its efficacy but several posts are yet to be filled. These include Scientist Ground Water, Scientist Agriculture and Executive Engineer etc.
When contacted, an officer of the Jal Shakti Department, who is privy to the development with regard to appointment of Chairperson and Member, told EXCELSIOR on the condition of anonymity that a committee which had to initiate the process met only once till date. “Since then there is no further headway”, he added.
They said that J&K Union Territory is rich in water resources but due to unplanned development and increase in population, the availability of clean water is very much in danger and hence, the management and regulation of water resources become more important. “But it is a matter of serious concern that the Authority which has a crucial role to play in this regard remains headless during the past over one year”, they added.
In response to a question, they said that as per the Regulations framed by the Authority the quorum for a meeting shall be two-third of the total membership of the Authority with the Chairperson present in person or a Member duly nominated by him/her to chair the meeting. The meeting shall stand adjourned if there is no quorum.
“Keeping in view these Regulations, no business of the Authority has been transacted since January last year”, sources said, adding “even no meeting of the Authority can be convened in the absence of the Chairperson as Regulations state that the Chairperson shall preside over the meetings and conduct the business. If the Chairperson is unable to attend a meeting of the Authority, any other Member nominated by the Chairperson, in this behalf, shall preside over the meeting”.
The Authority was constituted as per the provisions of J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010 for regulating water resources, ensuring judicious, equitable and sustainable management, allocation and utilization of water resources, fixing the rates for use of water and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
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