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| Govt ignores Jammu, fattens kitty of eight Srinagar NC MLAs; calls for drainage plans worth crores | | Eye on Municipal elections! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Nov 29: In a case of blatant discrimination, Srinagar Municipal Corp-oration (SMC) has fattened the kitty of eight National Conference (NC) MLAs whose constituencies fall within the municipal limits of Srinagar district.
Rs. 15 crore, which was lying unattended with Srinagar Development Aut-hority (SDA) was diverted to Srinagar Municipal Cor-poration (SMC) for improving the drainage system of city. Corporation, according to sources, heeded to the directions from the National Conference top brass and asked the eight MLAs of NC to submit drainage plans for their respective constituencies.
They added that eight MLAs of NC have been authorized to prepare comprehensive plans so that entire amount of Rs. 15 crore could be utilized in the eight constituencies within this financial year. Sources confirmed that this Rs. 15 crore, which if distributed equally would mean each MLA getting a robust Rs. 1 .87 crore for developing his constituency. This huge amount is in addition to Rs. 1 crore constituency development fu-nd (CDF), which these eig-ht MLAs get from the government kitty.
The development is significant in the wake of impending Municipality elections, which the government has been repeatedly saying would be held immediately after the MLC elections from the Panch-ayat quota are over. Sour-ces further said that this special grant has been bestowed to Srinagar only and no such provision has been announced for Jammu region so far. Though Jam-mu is also in dire need of effective drainage system, Jammu MLAs have been ignored by design.
Eight constituencies which fall under Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and have been covered under this 'comprehensive drainage scheme' include Batmaloo, Zadibal, Eidgah, Habba Kadal, Kha-nyar, Sonawar, Amira Kadal and Hazratbal. Four bigwigs of NC which include Dr. Mustafa Kam-aal, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Nasir Sogami and Mubarak Gul alongwith Shamima Firdose, Irfan Shah, Yasin Shah and Peer Aafaq Ahm-ed represent these eight constituencies.
Sources said that NC has been doing all possible on earth to ensure that PDP does not rest the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) from them and has hence, resorted to blatant discrimination with Jammu city which has been battling an incomplete drai-nage system since the last many years. While the funds has been diverted from SDA to SMC for preparation of comprehensive drainage plans by officers, sources said that involving the MLAs clearly shows the intent of NC-led government.
Confirming this, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) G. N. Qasba said "Yes, we have asked the MLAs to come up with Drainage plans in their respective constituencies. SMC would spend the money. They have simply shows us where to spend this amount since they are better judges of their constituencies." He added that Srinagar city has been battling an ineffective drainage system since the last many years. "This money would help in beautifying the city," said Qasba.
NC's acting General Secretary when contacted said "Though I have heard about this but I am yet to receive the letter. But the money would definitely help in face-lifting Srinagar city." He added that NC is committed to give Srinagar an international look. On the contrary, MLA Jammu East Ashok Khajuria expressed deep anguish over what he described as 'biased' act of state government. "We would come on streets to protest against this high-handedness," said Khajuria.
He maintained that Jammu has been facing discrimination in allotment of funds since this government took over. "We would not sit silent. This cannot be tolerated. Either they should allot similar amount to Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) or face protests and agitation," added Khajuria. "There should be accountability of any transfer of funds under any head. There should be absolute justification of transferring of funds to MLAs, MLCs under which ever head the government does not," said Spokesperson of BJP Dr.Jatinder Singh.
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