There seems to be no cause of any disagreement towards development of our border areas and any step taken in this direction has not only to be actively supported but ensured it fructified in the desired manner. It may be recalled that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had sanctioned an amount of Rs.80 crore under Border Area Development Plan (BADP) during the financial year 2017-18 for identified blocks in 11 districts of the State which though received, is reported to be not released.
The said amount was primarily sanctioned to cater to the developmental needs of the people living in the border areas under BADP whereby the State Government is enjoined upon to submit a status report and Annual Action Plan latest by May every year so that timely release of funds could be made possible by the Border Management Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. When looked into the entire spectrum of the issue, right from preparation of Annual Action Plan and submission of the same to the concerned wing of the MHA, inordinate delay has been caused as regards the financial year 2017-18 which has resulted in causing a delay in finalization of the Plan.
It is not understandable as to why such an approach to an issue concerning our border dwellers’ developmental needs should be there on the part of the concerned authorities especially when money is to be received for such works from the MHA. However, the first installment of funds was released late last year and the second installment of Rs. 80 crore this March but due to certain official formalities, the amount was not released by the Finance Department. We urge the State Government to release the requisite amount of Rs. 80 crore at an early date after sorting out the official formalities, if any. The programme is under implementation in identified areas of border districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Shopian, Leh and Kargil.
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