STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes and a walkout by the opposition members after the government did not agree to their demand for an hour long discussion on urban traffic mobility plans and heavy jams in the capital cities.
In reply to BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta’s question regarding heavy congestion in Jammu and Srinagar and the measures to deal it, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told the House that with a view to address this problem, the government, through Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations and Jammu and Srinagar Development Authorities, is managing to provide suitable parking facilities to the people.
The opposition members sought details about urban traffic mobility plans constituted by the previous government for decongestion of the twin capital cities.
NC MLA Devender Rana demanded an hour-long discussion and the setting up of a committee to discuss the issue as traffic congestion in the twin cities was causing great inconvenience to the people.
Congress Legislative Party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora also raised the issue and sought a reply from the government about the measures being taken in this regard.
Nirmal said a meeting of legislators can be held to discuss the issue, however, the opposition members pressed for constitution of a committee and a discussion. They walked close to the Well of the House as Speaker Kavinder Gupta told them that they can raise the issue during the grants of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry. The dissatisfied opposition then staged a walkout from the House. Earlier, Nirmal said Jammu Municipal Corporation has proposed a parking at Panjthirthi for 240 vehicles on the land measuring 6.5 kanals with provisions of firefighting facilities, two lifts, a ramp and an attendant room.
One more parking project for 150 cars at Peer Kho near Baba Lal Ji temple at Circular road in Jammu costing Rs 15 crore has also been approved and parking for 22 cars completed near Mubarak Mandi Jammu, he said.
Jammu Development Authority has undertaken the project of multi-tier parking at Jammu Bus Stand at a cost of Rs 202 crore with parking space of 1,312 cars and 177 scooters. Another parking is also coming up at City Chowk with a capacity of 350 cars, he said. Srinagar Municipal Corporation is managing ten parking places almost all of which have been outsourced, he said.
The government admitted that vehicles are being parked along the roads in Jammu and Srinagar, he said. Deputy Chief Minister told the House that the government has taken several measures to decongest the traffic in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. He said work on construction of parking facilities at various focal points in these two cities are in progress, and after completion of these parking facilities there will be considerable improvement in regulating the traffic.
“For the smooth movement of traffic on B.C. Road, Jammu, the government was considering construction of a flyover and widening of BC road to 8-lane specification”, said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Oppn, treasury make common cause; walks-out
JAMMU: The members of the opposition and of ruling coalition partners staged a walkout from the Assembly over the issue of the untied grants being spent by Deputy Commissioners as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the government has kept certain funds at the disposal of Deputy Commissioners as untied grants for meeting out some exigent or additional requirements.
Intervening during the Question Hour, the Chief Minister said this untied amount would be used by the Deputy Commissioners for meeting some critical gaps in development expenditure by way of adding any facility or supplementing any existing service.
She said these funds would be operated by the Deputy Commissioners on the advice of public representatives including legislators, besides common people.
Mehbooba Mufti said the step has been taken to empower people at the grassroot level and ensure speedy completion of developmental works besides seeking active participation of people in the developmental process of the state.
The members of the opposition raked up and created uproar that DCs are not giving required response over the issue and protested over such a decision by the government.
They staged a walkout from the House.
Even after Mehbooba Mufti left the House, several members of ruling coalition asked Chairman of the House that he has failed to give to direction to DCs to abide by the protocol of the legislators and they should listen to them.
Later, they also staged walkout over the issue.
