DDB gives nod to CAPEX budget of Rs. 200 cr for Jammu
VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: Frontal attack by BJP MLAs from Akhnoor and R S Pura over ‘step-motherly treatment with regard to funding’ and ‘non-performance of the coalition government, during District Development Board meeting here on Sunday, created flutter with Deputy Chief Minister and other ministers vainly attempting to cool their tempers.
Immediately after power-point presentation on the targets and accomplishments etc began, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma got up on his feet and accused the ministers of his own government for letting them down by not giving Jammu district its due share in the funding.
“We have lost our faces before the people, as the ceiling on account of funding to the Jammu District has again been minimized compared to other districts”, MLA Akhnoor said, alleging that this is a brazen discrimination. He said the people were disillusioned on account or erratic power and drinking water supply. In this context, he referred to the continued strike of PHE workers, saying this has further added to the problems of the people.
He pleaded for adequate funding and raising the ceiling. While comparing the ceiling of funds with other districts, he got emotional and walked out of the meeting hall despite persistent requests from the ministers to stay put and participate in the proceedings.
Some of the officers and opposition members were seen taking vicarious pleasure over the virulent attacks being made by the members against the minister and their own government.
With MLA Akhnoor having walked out, the MLA R S Pura Gagan Bhagat got up and directed his ire against the Deputy Chief Minister.
Pointing his finger towards the Chair, Bhagat said in raised voice, “After leaving my constituency to attend this meeting, I am told that the people have burnt three effigies-two of mine and one of yours-for failing in meeting their aspirations. He delivered a ferocious speech over failure of the PDP-BJP Government on various fronts and said the people were feeling dejected and depressed. He said that the power and drinking water supply has been erratic while same is the case with other utility services.
“Aap logoon ne hamara beda gharak kar diya hai”, Gagan said, adding that if the problems of people continue to accumulate, despite BJP being in the government at the Centre and in the State, when shall they get respite. He asked the ministers to address to grievances of the people and let them have a feel of good governance.
“Time is running fast and if we fail in addressing the people’s problems then who will vote us.”
Pointing towards the officers present in the meeting, Gagan Bhagat said, “These bureaucrats will stay but after five years we may or may not be here”. He went on asking, “PDD Chief Engineer and other senior officers are sitting here. They can complete the R-APDRP project. What was the purpose to engage the private company E-MC, who are delaying the implementation of the project.”
On essentials like kerosene, MLA Gagan said, ‘the Kerosene Oil is not available to the people but one can find it in each bus running on R S Pura route. The senior police and administrative officers are sitting here and they know where this K Oil is sold in black.”
He touched all the gray areas and said, “X-Ray machine in the R S Pura hospital is out of order for the past two months. But, interestingly it was repaired today only as the DDB meeting was scheduled”.
Meanwhile, the District Development Board that met under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh on Sunday gave nod to an annual CAPEX budget of Rs.200 crore for Jammu district.
The meeting also reviewed the action taken report on the decisions of the last board meeting and took stock of physical and financial achievements registered in the District Plan during 2015-16.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Health and Medical education Bali Bhagat, Minister for PHE Sham Choudhary, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Priya Sethi, Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for development of Paharis, Kuldeep Raj, Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for development of Scheduled Castes, Bhushan Lal Dogra, Vice Chairman Kissan development board D. S. Chib, Member Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, legislators Sukhnandan Kumar, Sat Pal Sharma, Devinder Singh Rana, Dr. Gagan Bhagat, Rajesh Gupta, Kamal Arora, Rajeev Sharma, Dr. Krishan Lal, Dr. D.K Manyal, MLCs, Ashok Khajuria, Noor Hussain, Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, Sham Lal Bhagat, Ramesh Arora, Surinder M. Ambardar, Vikramaditya Singh and Surinder Choudhary.
While pushing for area specific planning and rationalization of developmental funds keeping in view the area population and topography of a particular region the Deputy Chief Minister said the proposal mooted by the Chief Minister for having separate development plans for the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu will be a major step in this direction giving fillip to the developmental scenario of these two cities.
He stressed that a comprehensive view of all vital parameters should be taken for ensuring optimal utilization of funds aiming at sustainable development .He also called for chalking out the developmental plans in consultation with the concerned legislators .
Underscoring the importance of 100% utilization of funds, Dy CM maintained that every single penny should be expended judiciously adding that strict adherence to the fixed timelines for completion of the vital developmental projects should remain priority of the executing agencies while ensuring quality of works on ground. Responding to the demands of various legislators regarding improvement in water and power supply Dy. CM directed the concerned officers of PHE and PDD department to take immediate requisite measures to augment water and power supply.
Earlier District Development Commissioner Jammu Simrandeep Singh while apprising the board about physical and financial achievements registered during last fiscal said that against an availability of Rs. 193.26 crores an expenditure of Rs. 172.93 crores was made which works out be 91 per cent.
Also present in the meeting were Chief Secretary, B.R Sharma, Financial Commissioner Planning, B.B Vyas, Principal Secretary PDD, Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu Zone Danish Rana, Commissioner Secretary School Education, Shaleen Kabra, Commissioner Secretary R&B, Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Hirdesh Kumar, Secretary H&ME, Dr. M.K Bhandari, Secretary PHE, I&FC, Sanjeev Verma, HOD’s and officers of district administration were also present in the meeting.