Srinagar, oct5 (KNS) : JKPC leader and MLA Sajad Gani Lone said efforts have been initiated to maintain close coordination with government departments and officers so that the MLA office can work more effectively with the administration.

“We have started maintaining liaison with officers and taking reviews of the work being carried out by different departments. We will continue this exercise so that the MLA office and departments can work together closely in the interest of the people,” Lone said.

Lone also criticised the functioning of the administration, alleging that ordinary people are being made to face unnecessary difficulties in obtaining permissions and accessing government services.

Raising the issue of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) certificates, Lone questioned the huge regional disparity in the issuance of such certificates. He said that around 92 percent of the EWS certificates issued so far were from Jammu and only around 8 percent from Kashmir.

“If 92 percent of the certificates had been issued in Kashmir and 8 percent in Jammu, I would have raised my voice even then. The question is whether 92 percent of the poor actually live in Jammu and only 8 percent in Kashmir,” he said, calling for a review of the existing criteria.

Lone said the issue was not necessarily about wrongdoing but about a policy framework that, in his view, required correction.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe added that the matter should be examined by the elected government.

On the functioning of the government, Lone said that although the National Conference has 45 MLAs and controls the government, the opposition would continue to raise issues concerning the public.

He also said that the Speaker had assured him that a Privilege Motion could be brought if recommendations made by MLAs were ignored by government departments.

On the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Lone expressed concern over delays in implementing water-supply schemes in Jammu and Kashmir.

“JJM is a centrally funded scheme, and it has a specific time limit. We have already lost around two years. We will investigate the matter, but our immediate priority should be to ensure that water reaches the people,” he said.

Lone said the delay in implementing water-supply schemes had caused difficulties for the public and maintained that those responsible would have to answer for depriving people of access to water.

He said efforts would now be made to move ahead with laying water pipelines and completing pending schemes.

“First, let us bring water to the people; other issues can be examined later,” Lone said.(KNS)