 Early Times Report
RAJOURI, June 24: Stressing upon dovetailing Central and State Plan schemes to execute projects fraught with financial constraints, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said the Government will closely monitor implementation of District Capital Plans to see that allocated funds are utilized in full.
He said the Government has also reserved 1/3rd component within the Capital Expenditure Plans to defray huge liabilities in a phased manner, which have been inherited from the previous regime.
The Chief Minister made these observations while chairing the District Development Board meetings of Rajouri and Poonch districts, here today.
Besides Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar and Minister for Public Works, Gardens & Parks, Syed Altaf Bukhari, who are the Chairmen of District Development Boards of Rajouri and Poonch respectively, Minister for CA&PD & Tribal Affairs, Ch. Zulfkar, Minister for Transport, A. G. Kohli, MP, Jugal Kishore, Legislators, Qamar Hussain, Ravinder Raina, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Ch. Mohammad Akram, Javed Rana, Yashpaul Sharma, Vibod Gupta, Surinder Chowdhary, Dr. Shahnaz Ganai and Shamlal Baghat also attended the meetings. While Rs.197.94 crore Annual Plan for Rajouri district has been approved, a Capital Plan outlay of Rs. 173.16 crore for District Poonch was passed in the Board meeting. The Chief Minister observed that in the past few years, the State has been found wanting in effective implementation of Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) which has deprived the people of the benefits envisaged under these projects. He said by blending fund kitty of Rs.6,000 crore Central Schemes with Rs. 3,100 crore allocated to Capital Plans by the State, the districts have been granted enough financial resources to create durable assets and ensure every penny is utilized in creating basic amenities for the people living in remote areas of the State.
Laying emphasis upon maximum utilization of funds allocated under District Plans, the Chief Minister said the performance of the officers will be determined by the completion of ongoing projects and successful implementation of various social sector schemes.
The Chief Minister said creation of NITI Ayog at the Centre has changed the pattern of funding and ensured that each state gets its due share in Central taxes.
He said the new structured scheme of financing District Plans will help in completion of unfinished projects. "Unfortunately, we have inherited liability of over Rs. 9,000 crore, including Rs.3,000 crore on account of works executed without tendering and adhering to codal formalities," he said and added that ways and means have to be explored to clear the backlog.
Referring to the empowerment of people at the grassroots level, Mufti Sayeed indicated holding of civic body elections later this year. He said dillydallying over holding of elections by the previous Government blocked Rs.1500 crore Central package, which would have gone a long way in developing towns in remote districts under UIDSSMT (Urban Infrastructire Development Scheme for Small & Medium Tows) and IHSDP.
Expressing concern over critical condition of certain stretches on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs.10 crore for maintenance of Mughal Road so that it can be used as alternate connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir Divisions. He also called upon Border Roads Organization (BRO) to improve the critical stretch from Thanamandi to Buffliaz on the Mughal Road.
Referring to the cross-LoC trade and travel, the Chief Minister said he has taken up the issue of starting banking and telecom facilities at Chakan da Bagh in Poonch and and Salamabad in Baramulla with MHA and MEA so that it is discussed in the Joint Working Group meeting between India and Pakistan.
Placing high priority on monitoring quality of roads, the Chief Minister issued immediate directions for macadamization of all important road links in Rajouri and Poonch districts. "A Defect Liability Period (DLP) of three years for all contractors has been fixed by the R&B Department for ensuring maintenance of roads," he asserted.
Also present in the meeting were Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner / Secretary, School Education, Shaleen Kabra, Secretary to the Chief Minister, M. H. Malik, DIG, Poonch-Rajouri Range, A. K. Atri, besides Divisional Heads, Deputy Commissioners of Rajouri and Poonch districts and Sectoral Officers of the two districts. |
