Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Dec 10: Failure of the State Government to grant extension to the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC), which had been granted the mandate to examine the modalities for implementation of the Mushtaq Ganie Committee Report over creation of Administrative Units, has raised several eyebrows and questions are being raised over the seriousness on the issue.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the Cabinet in its meeting on October 24 this year had granted fourth extension to the CSC till November 30 and nearly ten days after the expiry of this deadline for submission of report, there has been no effort on part of the State Government to grant further extension.
“This has happened notwithstanding the fact that the issue also cropped up for discussion in the Cabinet Meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister”, sources said adding, “one of the cabinet colleagues stated that the CSC constituted to submit final recommendations over creation of administrative units should also submit its report. The Chief Minister, who was chairing the meeting responded by stating that the work is in progress and had been delayed as the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, who is chairman of the Committee wasn’t keeping good health”.
Sources also asserted that there were also some differences among the coalition partners – National Conference (NC) and Congress over the need to implement the recommendations over constitution of new administrative units in the election year.
“Even though the State Government had failed to grant extension to the CSC, the Revenue Department, which had been entrusted with the responsibility to scrutinize all representations made before the Committee has completed its work”, sources pointed out.
“The Revenue Department has assessed all the 220 representations, which were forwarded to it by the CSC.
While several of these representations had already been dealt with by the Ganie Committee, there were few fresh ones”, sources said adding, “all the representations were examined on the basis of guidelines already laid by the Ganie Committee. Mostly representations received from public representatives pertained to constitution of blocks, niabats and tehsils and none of them has demanded a separate sub-division”.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee, which is headed by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand has several others members including High Education Minister, Akbar Lone, Planning and Development Minister, Ajay Sadhotra and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mir Saifullah, all from National Conference, Urban Development Minister Rigzin Jora and PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, Sham Lal Sharma, both from Congress and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir (DPN).
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand when contacted said, “all the recommendations are being scrutinized by the Revenue Department and they shall come up with their report soon”, adding, “the Committee needs to be granted another extension for concluding its mandate”.
Planning and Development Minister, Ajay Sadhotra said, “the CSC had held few meetings and discussed threadbare all the issues. We are waiting for the final report from the Revenue Department”, adding, “the Committee after concluding their recommendations will submit the details before the Cabinet”.
Reiterating similar views, Agriculture Minister, Ghulam Hasan Mir, who is also a member of the Committee stated all the representations made before the CSC will be thoroughly discussed before coming to any conclusion.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was constituted on July 24, 2013, was given first extension by one month beyond August 24, 2013 on September 19, 2013 on the ground that suggestions and demands were invited for the creation of new administrative units. The second extension of two weeks beyond September 24 was given on September 28 on the ground that large numbers of suggestions were received and their examination would take time. Thereafter, the Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman approved the proposal of extension in the period of submission of report up to October 25.
On October 23, the CSC was granted its fourth extension up to November 30 for submission of report on the pretext of closing of offices due to Annual Durbar move.
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