| Governor led State Administration made to pay for follies of PDP-BJP government | | Reconstitutes selection committee for Jammu, Srinagar Smart City Projects | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: Previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government in the state believed more in making claims while drawing the developmental scenario rather than taking action on ground.
This became evident yet again today as Governor Satya Pal Malik led state administration ordered constitution of a selection committee for engagement of Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Srinagar Smart City Limited and Jammu Smart City Limited.
Although the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre is completing its five year tenure next year in May, Jammu & Kashmir is yet to get a feeling of Smart City tag for its capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
Even though the BJP ruled the state for around three years with PDP it could not make Jammu, the winter capital of the state a smart city. This is despite the fact that many low ranked cities of the country have made it to the final list of smart cities in the country.
"The people of Jammu who whole heartedly voted for BJP feel cheated since the city has not been developed to the level it should have been during the PDP-BJP dispensation. BJP might face the music in the next assembly election and also in the parliamentary elections slated for next year," said sources while divulging details to Early Times.
While the BJP failed to get the smart city tag for Jammu, the PDP failed in its bit to get the smart city tag for Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. No headway was made in this regard despite the fact that the state was headed by PDP during the two stints with BJP from March 1, 2015 to June 19, 2018.
"One cannot rule out the possibility that PDP would suffer for its failures in the assembly election scheduled to be held in October 2020. The party that has been badly hit by internal crisis would find it very difficult to regain its seats and one of the reasons for the same would be party's failure to get smart city status for Srinagar," said sources.
According to an order issued by General Administration Department (GAD), the selection committee for Srinagar Smart City Limited will have Administrative Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department as Chairman. The members will be Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Administrative Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department and Expert in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Kashmir.
The selection committee for Jammu Smart City Limited will have Administrative Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department as Chairman. The members will be Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Administrative Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department and Expert in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Jammu.
The Selection Committee shall interview the shortlisted candidates and make specific recommendations of suitable candidates for engagement of CEOs against advertised posts subject to suitability, experience and qualification. The Committee shall be serviced by the Housing and Urban Development Department. |
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