STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Urging to ease the procedure fixed for registration and issuance of NOC for establishing industrial units besides exploring possibilities for making all services on-line, the Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC) has asked Industries and Commerce Department (I&CD) to take result oriented measures for checking menace of corruption for overall betterment and promotion of industries sector in the State. He said every move of the department should be towards making public service delivery system transparent, hassle-free and under one roof to attract maximum investors towards this largest self-employment sector.
This was stated by the CVC while presiding over a meeting held with the officers of Industries and Commerce Department. The meeting was convened to review the progress of 111 corruption related complaints and 30 RDAs (Regular Departmental Actions) forwarded to the department by State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and Vigilance Organization (VO), from time to time, for action.
Among others, Vigilance Commissioner, Gous-ul-Nisa, Director Vigilance Organization, Alok Puri, Director Handicrafts, Director Geology and Minning, Director I&C, Kashmir, Director I&C, Jammu, Director Handloom, MD, JK Cements, MD, JK Industries, MD, JK Minerals, SSP (P) VO, Additional Secretary, I&C, and Additional Secretary, State Vigilance Commission (SVC) besides other senior officers of different wings of I&C department and SVC were present in the meeting.
Advocating for technological intervention in the department, the CVC asked the authorities to bring in use of internet services as E-tendering, E-payment and E-procurement have become imperative to eliminate human interface for checking the menace of corruption. He said technological intervention on one hand will reduce the paper work and on other hand minimize the chances of corruption thereby helping department to create an atmosphere where cashless transactions can take place.
Exhorting upon the officers to make monitoring mechanism more vibrant and effective, the CVC said that all officers should personally monitor the working of their subordinates, especially those handling the assignments where involvement of corruption remains high. Seeking suggestions for eliminating bribery in the department, the CVC asked the authorities of all wings of the department to take necessary corrective steps for making available all services on-line by doing away with official-beneficiary interface to avoid any unfair transaction. He said State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Power Development Department (PDD), as a part of ensuring transparency in service delivery system, need to introduce on-line system for issuance of NOCs and other related matters for those wanting to establish industrial units.
Clearing doubts of some of the officers whether action on anonymous or trivial complaints is required, the CVC said that all the departments are bound to act upon the directions being issued by the Commission on different nature of corruption related complaints. He said the Commission is taking cognizance of the complaints having substantial evidence and after analyzing them thoroughly.
Referring to the complaints about misusing of powers by certain officials of the industries department, the CVC said that subsidy payments, allotment of land in industrial estates for setting up units and issuance of NOCs are the major areas where the Commission is receiving complaints.
The meeting was informed that all out efforts are being made by the department to minimize the difficulties of those approaching for registration, subsidy, NOC or any other related issue
Assuring early action on pending RDAs, the Additional Secretary, I&C said that 52 complaints have been disposed of so far while Action Taken Report (ATR) on remaining complaints and RDAs will be submitted within two months.
The officers were asked to submit action taken report of complaints, RDAs, pending with the department, within fifteen days thereby making it clear that no further extension would be granted for the purpose. They were also asked to furnish copies of all those cases, in which action stands already taken by the department, to Vigilance Organization (VO) so that the names of those officials listed in watchdog list of VO are removed.
