| Basohli-Bani Development Authority office stationed 70 kilometres away | | Governor sends babus to village, they get offices to cities | | Early Times Report
Jammu, July 4: The "Back to village", campaign was started by Governor to send back bureaucrats to villages but working in contravention to such move, some officials managed to get the office of Basohli-Bani Development Authority (BDA) stationed near district headquarters, some 70 kilometres from Basohli town and 150 kilometres from Bani town.
According to sources, vide cabinet decision number 29/2/2017 dated 13/2/2017, the then government had created Bani Basohli Development Authority (BBDA) but after the lapse of over two years, its functioning has been limited.
Though some of the officials have been appointed for the BBDA but the appointed officers have been stationed at Lakhanpur as the office has yet to shift to Basohli, Bani or to a place in between Bani or Basohli.
"Though Governor had started an appreciable initiative by starting Back to Village campaign with one aim to send policy makers to ground level to have first-hand experience but it is quite surprising that an office meant to promote tourism potential of Basohli and Bani areas, have been stationed at Lakhanpur, which is over 70 kilometres from Basohli town and over 160 kilometres from Bani town", an official said.
Sources further disclosed that there were some officers, who want to stay at Lakhanpur as they have settled in Jammu, so they have been reluctant to go to Basohli or Bani town as it would not be possible to return back in the evening. "Governor administration must take cognizance of the matter and shift the office to Basohli or Bani town, so that policies to tap the tourism potential of the areas, would be framed and benefits would trickle down to local masses", an official said.
Chief Executive Officer Mansar Surinsar Development Authority Nagender Singh Jamwal, who also holds the charge of Basohli-Bani Development Authority said that as the notification of BBDA, Lakhanpur area fell under Basohli and office was operating from there.
He further said that few days back, Advisor to Governor KK Sharma had a meeting in Basohli and some people had raised the issue about the working of Basohli-Bani Development Authority. "Though office is very much in the limits of Basohli but if government decide to shift the office, then they can shift it", Jamwal said.
Director Tourism Jammu Om Parkash Bhagat didn't pick up his phone for comments. |
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