KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Describing District Development Boards (DDBs) as mini-legislatures and institutions of inclusivity, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the decisions taken in the District Development Board meetings shall have to be implemented in letter and spirit.
“District Development Boards are the institutions of empowerment for the legislators. This well-established institutional mechanism makes them part of the implementation process at the ground level. I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the credibility and authority of the institution DDB is restored fully,” Sayeed said while chairing the District Development Board meetings of Jammu and Reasi districts here today.
Calling for making the mechanism of issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) transparent and hassle-free, the Chief Minister, however, directed the administration to take strict action against those misusing the same. He directed the administration to ensure that the permanent residents of the state are not made to suffer for issuance of PRCs and other certificates.
Expressing concern over the intensifying traffic congestion in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, the Chief Minister announced the state government’s plan to have multi-lane circular roads for Jammu and Srinagar to ease jamming.
Sayeed said the future of the state lies in education sector and the government’s endeavor is to make J&K a knowledge society. He called for better coordination between universities and the implementing agencies to ensure that the benefits of the strides made in research percolate down to the people on ground.
He asked the Vice-Chancellor of University of Jammu to chalk out a comprehensive program to review the working of different campuses of the varsity at Bhaderwah, Ramnagar and Kathua. He further stressed the need for introducing job-intensive academic courses in the colleges and universities keeping in view the requirement of the industry and employment sector.
“Jammu has a huge potential in agriculture and horticulture sectors which needs to be tapped using latest technological inventions in irrigation, root stock and quality seeds and field interventions,” he added.
The Chief Minister emphasized that SKUAST Jammu was primarily aimed at giving a push to the extension services to the farmers in the Basmati bowl of and to give fillip to extension of horticulture and its allied activities to the farmers of Jammu region so as to harness the different agro-climatic zones.
In response to the demands by legislators for development of tourist spots in their respective constituencies, the Chief Minister called for identification of tourist spots in the vicinity of highways and preparation of DPRs to fully harness the tourist potential of Jammu division.
The Chief Minister said projects for beautification of Tawi banks will be taken up on priority and directed for preparation of DPR for beautification of areas from Raghunath Mandir to Mubarak Mandi heritage complex under heritage tourism project. He also directed for construction of sunshades on pathways leading to Bawa Wali Mata temple.
He called for identification of a tourist village under Government of India’s flagship rural tourism promotion scheme. He sought early black-topping of the road adjoining Surinsar Lake.
The Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman DDB, Jammu Dr Nirmal Singh while speaking on the occasion said the Draft Master Plan of Jammu is ready and would be soon put in the public domain.
“Main focus of the coalition is development and we will ensure that Agenda of Alliance is implemented in letter and spirit,” he added.
In Jammu district the total plan allocation for 2014-15 was to the tune of Rs 107.14 crore which included Revenue component of Rs 46.08 crores. In the current fiscal the revenue component has been taken out thus total capex for 2015-16 is to the tune of Rs 193.27 crore.
In Reasi district the total plan allocation for 2014-15 was to the tune of Rs 73.78 crore which included Revenue component of Rs 24.41 crores. In the current fiscal the revenue component has been taken out thus total capex for 2015-16 is to the tune of Rs 141.18 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Education and Information, Priya Sethi projected for reviving old heritage complexes and lightening of pathway from Raghunath temple to old Dewana Mandir, adding that the ropeway project of Peer Kho to Bawa should also connect the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
MLA Devender Rana called for better coordination between mechanical and civil wings of PHE department so that perennial issues related to water supply are sorted out.
Rana raised the issue of non availability of Urdu teachers in Jammu division particularly in the district. A committee under the Chief Secretary was constituted to look into the matter. As per the rules in vogue there are no subject specific teachers, consequently there are no Urdu teachers in most of the schools.
The Chief Minister directed the education department to find out a way and if needed additional posts be created to meet the needs of the students desirous of studying Urdu as a subject.
MLA Gool Aijaz Ahmad Khan stressed for liberal funding to the Reasi district keeping in mind the poverty and remoteness of the district.
The Chief Minister announced an additionality of Rs 50 lacs for each constituency of Reasi district.
