The recently held District Development Board meeting for Jammu district could be called a bonanza for Jammu district if the schemes that have been discussed and the amount of funds approved are the criterion. We cannot say that Jammu has grabbed the lion’s share but we can say that it has managed to get equitable share out of development projects under contemplation. There is a fair list of underlined projects and allocations that would convince even a diehard critic and fault finder. However, all this boils down to implementation and execution within the specific period of time. In that respect, we have reservations based on past experience.
One conspicuous situation is that the civic bodies have not been constituted during the past quite long time. The apprehension is that in absence of elected members of Municipal Corporation, true justice may not be done to all municipal segments of Jammu district in taking inhand many of developmental works on priority basis. This notwithstanding people expect that the administration will take all the identified tasks seriously and assure people that these projects would be completed in time. Jammu district has 11 constituencies plus one that is partly in Samba district. The DDB has been munificent to them by sanctioning additional 50 lakh rupees per constituency to meet the requirements connected with civic amenities like drains, roads, water supply, street electrification, maintenance of parks and play grounds, waste disposal units etc. However, R S Pura constituency has been granted one crore instead of fifty lakh as it has a good number of SC and OBC population. The grant was necessitated in the absence of elected Municipalities and Panchayats in the State, which used to carry out civic amenity works. As there were no elected local bodies, the Central Government has been denying funding as a result of which small works were suffering.
Concerned MLAs will have a role in the developmental activities of these constituencies. In addition, the Board has agreed that no tenders will be called for any work below 3 lakh rupees. The Chief Minister was responding to the demand of a number of MLAs. The justification for this decision is that some minor works that are counted among essential services cannot be allowed to linger on for a long time till formalities of sanction from different quarters is obtained. This gives opportunity to each department to undertake small projects within the range of three lakh rupees without going through the hassles of tenders and bids etc. In another step toward carrying forward the works pending under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM), the Government has, as goodwill gesture, released Rs 15 crore for Jammu district to take the sewerage project forward by linking septic tanks with the underground pipes. This work has been partly done and with the funds released the work will be resumed in full swing is the belief of people in general. It has to be noted that while the Centre approved grant for remaining work under JNURM for Srinagar City, where 70 per cent work had been completed, the claim of Jammu was rejected, where only 48 per cent work was complete. The Centre had given funding to the States for JNURM works, where 50 per cent work was complete. Various works of beautification of Jammu have also been approved including the beautification of Raghunath Temple by removing traffic congestion from the peripheries of the temple. It has also been agreed to convert the old city of Jammu as heritage centre and preserved in its originality. Many other schemes are on the anvil and allocations have also been made.
In final analysis let us remind State authorities that the taste of pudding is in eating. There appears no shortage of funds as all these developmental works fall under the big package announced by PM for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be a sad day for Jammu if the underscored works are not executed in time and funds are allowed to get lapsed. That should never happen and that will spell disaster for the Government.
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