Madam Chief Minister,
The network of roads that crisscross our landlocked State were arteries whose proper functioning was critical to our physical, economic and social well being. Road safety was therefore a matter of grave and abiding concern to our people. Sadly, the State and Central Government were found content with offering lip service, providing sub-standard services and making appropriate noises. On an average, our State recorded 6,000 road accidents annually resulting in death of around 1,000 innocent persons-almost double the national average. In four years (2010-2013-both inclusive) J and K recorded 25,495 road mishaps leading to the death of 4,453 persons and injuries to around 36,920. Out of these Banihal-Doda-Kishtwar loop accounted for 2,401 accidents in which 823 persons lost their lives and 3,700 persons were injured. The number of road mishaps jumped to 6,709 in 2012 from 6,006 in 2009.
As road accidents became endemic people felt abandoned, agitated and frustrated. The stereotyped messages of condolences by the VVIPs and sanction of relief brought no solace.
In my more than decade long campaign for securing road safety, I found only Governor N. N Vohra batting for the cause that touched lives of each one of us one way or the other. You are the first executive head of the State to take personal interest in tackling the challenging task of traffic management, a component of wider road safety concept. This has raised hopes in the civil society.
In the Srinagar meeting, you had spoken of the involvement of students in the traffic management campaign. This is an excellent idea but as a long term measure such participation must be preceded by awareness of road safety norms etc. In fact, various sections of society especially the corporate sector needed to be prompted and encouraged to contribute their might. Sadly, the constricted bureaucratic mindset and administrative insensibility of a minister aborted the first such initiative. Mukhtar Shah, Chief Executive of The Royal Group of Companies had made an offer to the Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation to;
1. Repair, beautify and maintain the Lal Chowk Clock Tower at his expense.
2.To set up a network of world class collection bins in the Lal Chowk-Bud Shah Chowk loop for depositing cast offs like wrappers, containers etc. He had also come up with a great idea of slamming the citizens into adhering to proper conduct in disposal of used material on public space. Hand gloves wearing well dressed attendants were to be deployed to keep watch. Any stuff not deposited in the bins will be hand lifted by the attendant in full public view and deposited in the bin without any comment thereby making violators of the rule a butt of public ridicule.
After persistent efforts the commissioner was persuaded to permit work on the Clock Tower. Hardly was construction material brought to the site and masons etc engaged that some misguided shopkeepers from the Lal Chowk complained to the Municipal Commissioner that Mukhtar Shah had taken over the Clock Tower and converted it into his private property. Instead of explaining the real position and motivating them to also take up such projects of public interest, the commissioner had the work stopped. The other project aimed at improving the hygiene of the LS-BSC loop was also shelved. When it came to my notice I wrote to Jora, the Minister for Urban Development on 9th June, 2014 urging him to intervene and have this pilot project revived. There was no action no response. His successor also did nothing. Perhaps, the offer especially the one related to garbage collection and management can be accepted even now. Even otherwise the government/ administration must take initiatives to motivate individual businessmen as well as organisations of Traders/ Bazaar Committes to come forward and discharge their social responsibilities. I am sure positive response will come from Jammu and Srinagar cities.
In 19th Feb, 2016 meeting in the Raj Bhawan, the Governor approved the draft Road Safety Plan and directed it be placed in the public domain for comments and suggestions. I not only missed the publication but failed to access the plan on the internet. However, based on the salient features of the draft plan as appearing in the newspapers and detailed specific directions issued by the Governor it may be safe to assume that my concept of road safety and measures suggested to achieve the goal were taken under consideration. Fortunately Governor Vora reads news papers and also interacts. There, however was divergence of views on the character and composition of the institution designed to deal with the complex and gigantic problem. The Raj Bhawan Plan mandates constitution of an Empowered Task Force comprising of concerned officials chaired by the Chief Secretary for the purpose. I have, on the other hand proposed constitution of a Road Safety Commission for managing, planning, operating, co-ordinating, monitoring and regularly reviewing the road safety infrastructure and mechanism, spreading the road safety awareness on sustained long term basis, mobilising civil society/ NGOs and securing encroachment- free roads and foot paths etc. The commission may be whole time compact body comprising of concerned government functionaries at the top level and non-official experts and eminent civil members of the cociety. The non-official experts and civil society members were expected to function in an honorary capacity. It may be unrealistic to expect the already over-worked officers to give the kind of attention and focus that the crucial, complex, gigantic and multi-dimensional problem required. Formal association by you with the proposed Road Safety Mission would endow it with stature, seriousness and in-built accountability.
May I end this letter with the hope that it meets a fate different from that of such initiatives in the past.
With best wishes
Yours Sincerely
(M. M Khajooria)
