Ruling MLA seeks House Committee on Jhelum; no response from Govt

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17:  Ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir today demanded setting up of House Committee to probe the status of ongoing dredging works on river Jhelum as he claimed that in some areas, no work was being carried out and there was threat of 2014 like floods again.
National Conference MLA and former Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and CPM veteran MY Tarigami supported the PDP MLA saying this was “very important issue” and the Government was required to come out with “concrete action plan” to prevent floods in future.
Mir, who was not satisfied with the reply given to his question by PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Choudhary on the status of de-silting of river Jhelum, cornered the Minister saying that in some areas, no work has been carried out and there was threat of 2014 like floods. He charged the Minister with “misleading” the House on dredging works.
However, Sham Choudhary tried to pacify the agitated members saying that work was on as per the plan formulated by his Department and that all steps were being taken to ensure that there was no repeat of 2014-like floods.
However, not satisfied with the reply, the ruling PDP MLA called for setting up of a House Committee to probe the status on ongoing dredging works in Jhelum so that the situation is clear and the members are acquainted with the pace of work.
Mir said the Government claim that it has started dredging of Jhelum in Sopore and Baramulla but it should have been started from Srinagar and Sangam areas.
“I have apprehensions that the Government is not serious about the issue. The fact is that work is not going at any place,” Mir told the House and alleged that the PHE Minister was trying to divert the question.
“They are not aware about how they have utilized Rs 26 crore funds for dredging,” he claimed.
National Conference member and former Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and CPM MLA MY Tarigami also supported the ruling party legislator. Tarigami justified the demand for setting up of the House Committee saying the issue was “very serious” and “casual approach” by the Government had the potential of posing major threat of floods in Srinagar like 2014.
“In view of 2014 floods, what steps have been taken by the Government to ensure that there was no repeat of the situation in future. We need concrete action plan and not just assurances. The casual approach won’t do,” Tarigami said while supporting the demand for setting up of the House Committee.
NC MLAs Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mian Altaf also demanded concrete action to prevent 2014-like floods in Srinagar.
“This is a serious charge from the MLA of the ruling party,” said Sagar.
However, Speaker Kavinder Gupta and PHE Minister Sham Choudhary didn’t endorse the demand for setting up of the House Committee.
Another ruling PDP MLA said Rs 616 crore under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) were unspent for past three years and wanted to know from Minister of State for Power Asiea Naqash as to why they haven’t been spent so far.
In her reply to the main question in the absence of Deputy Chief Minister, Incharge Power, Dr Nirmal Singh, Naqash said the Centre has launched DDUGJY for improvement of power system in the State at a cost of Rs 616.59 crore.
Responding to a question by PDP MLA Abdul Rahim Rather in Assembly, Naqash said the programme has been approved for implementation in 21 districts of the State including 10 in Jammu province, 9 in Kashmir and two in Ladakh region.
Asiea said DDUGJY is aimed at augmenting the power infrastructure and electrification of all un-electrified areas in the rural region.
It also envisaged various reforms in the power sector to improve overall power scenario in the State.
Elaborating further, the Minister said the reason for slow implementation is poor response to tenders and meeting various other technicalities.
She said the Government is making constant efforts for speedy implementation of this important programme in all identified areas of the State to ensure that benefits reach to the targeted population.
Meanwhile, replying to a question by Congress MLA Gulzar Ahmad Wani, she said the Government is going to develop Receiving Station at Kawarigam to ease load and improve power supply scenario in adjoining areas.
She said the power supply to Ranipora and Kawarigam is fed from Receiving Station, Gopalpora through 11 KV Dethoo feeder while Hard-Tooru is fed from Receiving Station, Shangus Nowgam through 11 KV Issus feeder.

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