LG yet to take decision on start of 2nd Phase in Leh, Kargil
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 27: Most of the developmental issues raised by the people in the villages of Leh and Kargil districts during the Phase-I of Back to Village (B2V) Programme have remained unresolved till date with Councillors of both the Hill Councils stating that there was only hype with zero ground result.
Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh R K Mathur has yet not taken decision on starting Phase-II of the Programme, which, however, began with much publicity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from today.
In June 2019, the administration of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir decided to embark on Back to Village initiative and the Phase-I of the Programme was conducted from June 20 to June 26, 2019. The Programme involved deputing large number of Gazetted Officers—one for every Panchayat to assess the developmental issues of the people at the grass root level and take prompt decisions about resolving the same.
Like other parts of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, several parts of Ladakh region (presently Union Territory) were also visited by senior bureaucrats for on-spot assessment of grievances of the people and passing instructions for their resolution in a time bound manner.
However, majority of the developmental issues projected by the people in most parts of Leh and Kargil districts have remained unresolved till date as no efforts were made to ensure timely follow-up action on the instructions passed by the senior bureaucrats during their visits.
Quoting some examples, sources said that Financial Commissioner Finance Dr Arun Kumar Mehta during the Gram Sabha held at village Saboo in Leh district was apprised of poor condition of roads by the Councillor of Phayang Punchok Dorjey. Even the issue of uncontrolled population of stray dogs in Leh, which was threatening human lives and exotic wildlife equally, was raised by the Councillor.
“Though the Financial Commissioner had passed on-the-spot directions for submission of proposals through Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh for inclusion of roads in the Languishing Funding Scheme and prompt action to check the menace of stray dogs yet result on the ground is zero”, said Punchok Dorjey, Councillor of Phayang while talking to EXCELSIOR on telephone from Leh.
He further said, “there was only hype on the Phase-I of the B2V…..I have not seen any follow-up action on the directions passed by the Financial Commissioner Finance not only in my constituency but in other areas also”, adding “without follow-up action B2V Programme has failed to yield any positive result”.
“If this is the fate of the directions issued by top officer like Financial Commissioner Finance what could be the outcome of the instructions passed by other officers during visit to other parts of Leh can be easily gauged”, sources said.
Similarly, at village Baima in Leh district, the then Commissioner Secretary to Government Tourism Rigzian Sampheal (presently holding several departments in the Union Territory of Ladakh), had issued directions for completion of all pending works of village like road connectivity, drinking water facility, electrification and filling up of vacant posts of teachers at the earliest.
“However, fate of these directions is still handing in balance and no follow up action was taken”, said Phunchok Stanzin, Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh while taking to EXCELSIOR, adding “it seems that focus was only on assessing the grievances and demands of the people but not on their redressal”.
Likewise, in numerous Panchayats of Kargil district, some of which were visited by senior officers including the then Special Secretary Higher Education Department Choudhary Rashid Azam Inqalabi, demands like adequate power supply, augmentation of rural healthcare system, proper road connectivity and opening of bank units were raised by the people.
Though the concerned departments were directed to take prompt action and approach the Government with the formal proposals for grant of funds yet on ground no action has been taken till date as such Phase-I of B2V failed to yield desirable results, sources further informed.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh R K Mathur has yet not taken any decision vis-a-vis start of Phase-II of B2V Programme in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
“Only Ladakh administration is to take decision on B2V Programme following bifurcation of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and no instructions in this regard have so far been issued from the office of Lieutenant Governor”, said senior officers of the Leh and Kargil administration while wishing anonymity.
They further said, “at present weather conditions are not favourable for conducting this programme and may be this exercise will be conducted at later stage”, adding “it is a fact that people are complaining about inaction on the instructions passed by the senior bureaucrats during the Phase-I of B2V”.
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