The Committee on Estimates of 11th Legislative Assembly in its 44th report tabled on the floor of State Legislature on February 24, 2014 had brought to the fore its observations vis-à-vis functioning of some key departments of the State. Moreover, it had made numerous recommendations for strict compliance by the heads of these departments so as to improve the working and meet the aspirations of the people. The Estimates Committee is within its rights to make observations and recommendations. In normal course of things its recommendations are implemented by the departments concerned especially when the recommendations pertain to works of public interest. In particular the Committee had made certain crucial recommendations concerning the Housing and Urban Development Department, which has the mandate to frame policies, plans and schemes for the growth of urban areas and to provide civic amenities in urban areas. The Department was asked to take proper steps to ensure that there was no dilution of the Master Plan for the cities of Srinagar and Jammu because the Committee had been informed that there were some serious irregularities that adversely affected the Master Plans for the twin capitals of the State. The legislators have retired but the recommendations made by them have not been implemented and these are gathering dust in the secretariat. Some of the recommendations were very crucial as we said and these have never been implemented. For example, the recommendation was that the two cities should have parking lots because a rapid increase in motor vehicles had made parking a huge problem in both the cities. But no action has been taken in real sense of the term. There are other recommendations of providing civic amenities for the people. Nothing worth the name has happened in that area.
The point is that if there are no funds available with the Government, then there seems little sense in constituting committees, asking these to make survey and submit reports and do all the futile exercise because at the end of the day everything ends in smoke. If that is not the case and the Government is willing to implement the genuine recommendations, then the question arises who is to be held responsible for scuttling the recommendations of the Estimates Committee? After all the Legislative Assembly is not a show piece just for decoration and no real purpose. The bureaucracy is grossly mistaken if it thinks like that. It should be aware of the powers of the legislature which is the house of the representatives of the people. The bureaucracy has to remember that power does not flow from laws, procedures, etc. alone. The real power rests with the people and their vote.
The Legislative Assembly commands great respect and responsibility. It is where the problems of the people and of the Government are discussed and debated and decisions taken. Therefore, if we want to strengthen our democracy, we shall have to give due respect to the status, powers and prestige of the legislature. The recommendations are in the larger interests of the people. The legislators are the first servants of the people and they are answerable to them. We hope that the entire bureaucracy will make itself convinced that its support and cooperation is of paramount importance for the development and progress of the State.
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