news details |
|
|
| Estates Department does not want to vacate quarters from political workers | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Sept 12: The state administration is reluctant to evacuate the government quarters from the political workers as there are speculations that there may be an elected government in the state.
The BJP leaders according to party insiders are in touch with dissenting PDP MLAs to form the government. The BJP needs the support of 44 MLAs for government formation. The party has 25 MLAs, its ally PC has two and it may also have secured the support of two independent legislators, taking its tally to 29. In that scenario, saffron party is still short of 15 members to again form government in J&K which is under Governor's rule since June 20, a day after BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government.
At the same time, the Estates Department is reluctant to evacuate residential quarters from workers of political parties.
"The quarters have been provided during the elected government. It won't be possible to vacate workers from them. If we vacate them from quarters then the political parties will create a problem for the officials if they form the government," an official of Estates Department said.
The official said, "I can't do anything. If their (workers who are in quarters) parties who are in residential quarters form the government, they will create problems for we officials. So we don't want to touch them till it is clear there will be no elected government soon in the state," the official added.
There are allegations that government has allotted Estates Department quarters "illegally" to outsiders.
"There are complaints that outsiders, including political workers, politicians and bureaucrats relatives are staying in government accommodation in the state," an official of the Estates Department, said.
Government is accommodating move employees in quarters of Estates Department that as per officials, are "inadequate" to meet the requirement of the employees. They are entitled for the government accommodation as per the laid down norms. For rest of the employees, the Government is hiring private hotels and guest houses, which cost crores to the state exchequer.
An official claimed that hundreds of quarters have been allotted "illegally" to outsiders.
"Around 500 people are residing in Estates Department quarters illegally in the state resulting there is inadequate accommodation for move employees in Srinagar and Jammu," the official of Estates Department said.
Sources said that government is spending over Rs 90 crore annually on private accommodations being hired for Darbar employees. The official said that the Government has to provide accommodation to over 6000 employees for six months both in Srinagar and Jammu. "But the employees do not get the adequate accommodation," he added.
Government had decided several times to utilize state land effectively where additional accommodation could be developed for these employees. There is a proposal for construction of new flats at Pampore. Estates Department is also going to acquire land at Tulsibagh for building new accommodation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
