Jammu, Apr 10 (KNS): National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday expressed grave concern over undermining the time tested institutional mechanism of District Development Boards, saying the PDP-BJP dispensation has set a wrong precedence of diluting their efficacy.
“Governments come and governments go but the sanctity of institutions had to be maintained for the larger interest of the State and its people”, Devender Singh Rana said while addressing Jammu DDB meeting here this morning.
Rana, who represents Nagrota Assembly Constituency in the Legislative Assembly, took strong exception to the absence of Ministers and Administrative Secretaries in the meeting, saying this speaks volumes about importance being attached by the government to the institution of District Development Board. Except for three ministers, two of them MLAs of the Jammu district and three administrative secretaries, others did not find it appropriate or worth their status to attend such meetings, he said and described the nonchalant attitude of the functionaries of the government, ministers included, and their arrogance as insult to the people of Jammu.
The MLA said the Jammu district, like rest of the state, is braving the brunt of developmental paralysis and administrative inertia, which could perhaps be a compelling factor for the ministerial and other senior administrative representatives of the government to avoid the opposition and defend non-performance of over three years. “In any case, this sad state of state of affairs is undemocratic and unpardonable”, he said, adding that absence of concerned deprives the Board of knowing about the status of various decisions taken by the Board.
Rana highlighted the apathetic attitude of the coalition government, saying administration has failed in reaching out to the people. In this context, he referred to the lackadaisical and motivated approach of the government in implementation of the decision of the previous government with regard to administrative units and said the consequences were seen in parts of Rajouri district. The situation is similar in other areas, like Jandrah, which has been deprived of functional Tehsil office despite assurances in the Legislative Assembly and other forums. Such a response, he said, has alienated the people from the government, as they feel let down on all fronts.
The MLA Nagrota also referred to the huge expanse of Jammu district and demanded carving out of two more districts—Jammu Urban and Jammu Rrural—with separate funding to ensure planned development.
Rana, took to the floor of the Board and highlighted various issues confronted to the people of Nagrota Constituency in respect of development and other utility services. He particularly reiterated his concern over unsafe school buildings, saying Higher Secondary School, Kathar Upper, Government Primary School Sarah (Zone Gandhi Nagar), Government Middle School Seri Kalan Setni Bypass (Zone Dansal) in Panchayat Khanpur, Kattal Batal, Govt High School Kathar (Manwal) are in a dilapidated condition that could be risky for safety of students. This generated a debate and Rana hoped that the assurance held out by the Chair about safety audit of schools being carried out with appropriate corrective measures would be kept by the concerned agencies. He again took up the issue of vacancies of Urdu teachers and said that the government does not seem to be interested in filling up these. “Please have the Urdu teachers for the sake of students”, he appealed.
Rana sought renaming of Jammu IIT after the name of Mian Deedo and 40 per cent employment to locals in the support staff of IIT and IIM. He also urged the government to supplement the efforts of revival of heritage route to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, originating from Jagati, the DPR of which has been prepared by INTACH and submitted to Governor N N Vohra, in his capacity as Chairman SMVDSB for promoting it as part of pilgrim tourism.
Rana urged the Government to gear up for ensuing summer months and ensure regulated supply of power and drinking water across the Jammu region. He suggested formulation of a contingency plan based on previous experience to meet the needs of the people. In this regard he also bring to the attention of the Board towards setting up of a Grid Station at Surinsar for which DPR had already been prepared. He said delay on this count is bound to cause innumerable sufferings to the people of the area and its periphery.
The MLA expressed anguish over non-start of Deen Dayal Upadayay Yojna and said that the BJP ministers ought to have taken their much touted scheme to logical conclusion. “It is irony that they are not finding contractors for executing the Yojna that has deprived the State in general and Nagorta in particular of the dividends of the scheme”, he added.
Pointing towards the huge tourism potential of Nagrota constituency, the MLA stressed the need for holding Baisakhi Mela at Surinsar, which he said will go a long way in promoting tourism in Jammu. He also sought setting up of Critical Care Unit on National Highway to meet exigencies in the wake of road mishaps.
He called for expediting DPR for construction of Mian Dido Park at Nagrota prepared by the Floriculture Department at an estimated cost of Rs. 65.50 lacs has been submitted to the Planning & Development Department for approval besides PMGSY roads from Bamyal to Mathwar ; Dansal to Khatrui (with Bridge) and Panjgrian to Damuni for which DPRs have been submitted and are awaiting for tendering.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe sought expeditious construction of alternate road from Graveyard to Kore Jagir (Nadore) as the army has closed all entry points of road for the general public in Kore Jagir and said DPR involving Rs. 128.48 Lakhs has been prepared by the Rural Development Department.
Rana also sought expeditious tendering process for 35mtr span motorable bridge at Urlani Pali approved under CRF, road from Jhajjar Kotli to Badsoo Passenger Shed (via Churta-Badsoo-Chadali-Dansal), Tada-Chilla 250 mtr span bridge and Tada-Chilla 250 mtr span bridge.
Rana stressed the need for fast tracking work on Bamyal-Deva Mai road and urged the government to take up construction of Kattalbatal – Baba Phed Devta road and Aithem – Baba Phed Devta road. He said Baba Phed Devta is a revered religious place where people from across the state pay their obeisance.
He sought construction of road from Aithem to Sailjagir, besids completion of the road from Sarah to Sandhoori .
Rana also urged the government to take up various roads in the constituency which are not covered under any proper head / scheme. He said these road links are in dilapidated conditions and need urgent improvement / upgradation, which besides other included Patti Mohalla, Palpad, Dingyali – Mahjeen , Dwara, road, Mohalla Kulliyian (Ranjan), Road from Upper Handwal to Lower Handwal, Road from Keri to Orak, Road from Orak to Lower Handwal, Road from Keri to Chrangral, Road from Keri to Mohalla Bakarwal, Bhagani to Dhanu, Showa to Marh.
He urged the government to take up macdamization of roads from Jakhyari to Seora, Kanyala to Makwal, Upper Ragoora, Internal Link roads in Sidhra, Ragoora, Marh to Dung, Tuba Talai Road (Badsoo), Krade Mohalla (Badsoo), Amb Chanjroo to Shamshanghat, Mohalla ZEO Agore, Road to High School Rabta, High School Manwal, Sarah to Sandhoori, Main road Ban to Katoch Mohalla, Chenani Nallah to Bachowa (Badsoo) Jandyal Chigyani road, Jandyal to Bhupen da Talab, Dabber Mehra, Beri Chapri to Mohalla Jail Dar, Sarote to Keri 3 kms, Mohalla Slathia, Main road to Mohalla Nagrota and other links.
For strengthening water supply in the constituency, Rana sought NABARD funding for Water Supply Scheme Trena- Jandrah to cover over 3000 souls, Water Supply Scheme Chadali as there is no dedicated scheme, Water Supply Scheme Nagrota to cover areas of Nagrota, Rathore Dhok, Chak Rakwala besides Improvement and Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme, Sarah, Panchayat Korga Bhatyari. This will cover the Gujjar and Bakerwal population residing in and around Sarah. He sought improvement and augmentation of Water Supply Scheme Nargara Pata for covering over 2000 souls besides augmentation of Water Supply Scheme under WSS Tarmurian & Lower Handwal to cover the remote habitations of Dhanu, Lower Handwal, Khara Nallah, Mohalla Tamuriyian. He took up the issue pertaining to improvement and extension of WSS Mohra Upper Sarah, which will meet the needs of Lower Gujjar Mohalla, Upper Gujjar Mohalla , Upper and Lower Sarah of Panchayat Pargalta. Similarly, he sought provision of water supply to left out Mohra of Bhori Gujjar Basti, which will cover Gujjar Basti, Pargalta and Mohalla Sandhoori with a population of over 6000 souls. Besides, he demanded water supply for left out Mohra of Marie Kamata (ST Basti) of village Kanna Chadgal Lower to cover SC Mohalla, ST Mohalla, Upper Dhoon, Marie Kamata and SC Mohalla Sandhi of Panchayat Kanna Chadgal Lower with a population of more than 7000 souls. He called for improvement of Water supply scheme at Sangad-Challana, which will benefit 600 souls.
On the health services front, Rana drew the attention of the Board towards DPR on New Public Health Centre at Surinsar and also raised the lack of infrastructural facilities and staff at PHC Nagrota like ambulance, Dental Surgeon , X-ray Plant and X-ray Technician . He wanted to know about the decision taken with regard to setting up of two health institutions on 3rd July, 2015.
He also sought implementation of the decision taken a decade ago with regard to Accidental Trauma Hospital in Manwal and Jhajjar Kotli on the National Highway and said the full-fledged 10 bedded Hospital of Power Grid Corporation in Krishanpur has not been made functional for want of staff.
The other issues raised by the MLA pertained to Smart City, issuance of new ration cards as the web portal has been freezed for linking Adhaar Cards, AIIMS, inclusion of Nagrota in Jammu Master Plan as Institutional-Business District, time bound audit of assets, so that these assets may be recommended for repairs to protect their durability, identification of State land for development of dumping sites in the cities/towns and management of solid waste, decision about which had been taken in DDB held on 3rd July, 2015, multi-lane circular roads for Jammu to ease traffic jamming, as per decision of the same meeting, special funding for improvement/up gradation of Ranjan Lift Irrigation Scheme, preparation of Disaster Management Plan in view of the Archeological Department’s Report about earthquake of Richter scale 8 in Jammu region, permanent prohibitory injection restraining raising any sort of construction/renovation adjoining Kanyala Army Ammunition Depot and at Village Ban. (KNS)