‘Mayor is politician as well as administrator, judges situation better’

From Rs. 25 crore the JMC budget increases to Rs. 162 crores
Sharma lauds PM Modi’s vision for empowering local bodies, says now public realized what PM had thought

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The Mayor of Jammu city, Rajinder Sharma on Tuesday said while PM Modi while addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi had stressed on empowering local bodies so that democracy may percolate to the grass root level and stressed for early elections to the local bodies, none had an idea what such an empowerment could do but the same vision of PM Modi was put to practical form in J&K by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha with the help of administration.
While addressing at a function organized on the occasion of completion of tenure of elected representatives of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the Mayor said many works have been done in the last five years of the tenure which have improved and increased facilities in Jammu.
He said earlier Rs. 10-15 lakh was spent on a Ward for developmental works but today each Ward spends Rs.1-1.5 crore on such works.
“While Capex budget of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) was Rs. 25 crore for the all 75 Wards in 2018 for civil works, it has now been increased to Rs. 162 crores which in itself speaks how much facilities might have been increased and how much developmental works have been done in all Wards,” he said.
“Earlier the Capex budget allocation used to be done in the month of August but as the money could not be spent due to paucity of time it was lapsed but this time with our hard efforts the budgetary funds were released in the month of May as DPRs were made well in advance and all this gave us ample time to carry on developmental activities in the city this year,” Sharma maintained lauding the Councillors, JMC officers and officials besides the public of Jammu for support in achieving all these endeavours.
“The JMC has now also Tree Authority which was made by our hard efforts and is there in only a few Urban Local Bodies in the country,” Sharma said.
He said that Building By-Laws have also been changed which have many public friendly provisions like facilitating residential houses with less than 10 ft lanes to have building permission and for 2.5 marla land on spot building permission shall be given on clearing title of land by depositing required fee.
Mayor said that all this will give a big relief to common people.
He also mentioned about the recently held successful anti-polythene campaign which involved students of schools, colleges and universities besides other people of Jammu and 10 lakh people were outreached.
“DRDO made compostable carry bags were made and launched by Union Minister Hardeep Puri,” he said.
The Mayor further talked about the anti-corruption campaign under the banner of ‘Imandar Jammu, Shandar Jammu’ and said that he was very much excited by the public support given to the move.
The Mayor also voiced for political reorientation in the country and making efforts for freedom from political corruption.
He reiterated for voting to an educated candidate as public representative who must have proper knowhow about administrative matters.
The Mayor said that Chief Secretary of J&K and LG had expressed favour for these two campaigns saying that these should be carried further also.
“For Meri Matti, Mera Desh movement soil from 75 Wards was collected and martyrs and veterans were honoured and Jammu stood second in this movement throughout the country,” he continued.
“Working style of the House of elected Councillors has also been changed and now discussions were held on drug menace, pollution and other public centric issues,” Sharma said.
He said that the Urban Local Body should be self sustaining from funds generated by it and that will be the new task to fulfill. “Rs. 450 has been spent on Smart City project under which Bahu Circuit with laser shows, improvement at Balidan Stambh, park, parking place, etc were done,” he said.
The Mayor said that new direction to the work culture has now been given in the Urban Local Body maintaining dignity, integrity and administrative control of my position.
He said that today people have realized what was the vision of PM Modi regarding local bodies.
He stressed on affordable housing, primary health and other such facilities.
“Councillors along with their family members worked a lot and made Aadhar, Ayushman Cards for the needy people besides accomplishing many other such works,” Sharma said.
Mayor is a Politian as well as an administrator. “Sometimes something is good as a politician but at an administration same might not be good and vice versa,” he maintained adding: “Under such circumstances the Mayor has to strike a balance and works as a judge to finalise what has to be done.”