Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 28: State Government has geared up to make newly created 659 administrative units functional by June-July and the Deputy Commissioners have been issued fresh directions for expeditiously submitting the reports regarding demarcation of boundaries so that high-powered committee headed by Chief Secretary begins the further necessary exercise.
Following the creation of these administrative units comprising Sub-Divisions, Tehsils, Niabats, CD Blocks and Patwar Halqas on the recommendations of Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Revenue Department on February 6 asked all the 22 Deputy Commissioners to work out the geographical boundaries of these units within a period of one month.
However, the exercise could not be completed initially due to the Budget Session and thereafter due to announcement of Parliamentary elections and involvement of all the Deputy Commissioners in this democratic exercise.
“As all the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu are now free from the election exercise and their counterparts in Kashmir province will be free from May 7 onwards, the Government has issued fresh directions to them for expeditiously submitting the demarcation reports”, sources said. They disclosed that majority of the Deputy Commissioners have worked out the boundaries of the newly created administrative units and now they are only required to hold consultation with the public representatives before forwarding the same.
In response to a question, sources said that the Deputy Commissioners of Kupwara and Bandipora have already submitted the demarcation reports while as others would start furnishing after the reopening of Darbar Move at Srinagar.
Following this, a high-powered committee headed by Chief Secretary and comprising Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development Department, Rural Development and Revenue Departments would begin its exercise, which include examining the demarcation reports, making arrangements for the staff and infrastructure in order to submit a comprehensive report to the Cabinet for final orders, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that demarcation is an important exercise and the entire planning would be based on the feedback obtained from all the districts.
“There are plans to make newly created administrative units functional in June-July so as to boast of this achievement during the Assembly elections”, they said, adding “if there will be some sort of problem in making all the 659 administrative units functional in one go, the Government would accord priority to Sub-Divisions, Tehsils and CD Blocks as these are considered as most important units for the general public”.
Responding to a question, sources said that high-powered committee would ensure that the administrative unit is centrally located, easily accessible to the inhabitants of the area and administratively feasible/viable. It will also see whether the aspirations of the general public, topography of the area and recommendation of public representatives have been given due consideration during the boundaries demarcation exercise, sources added.
“Since the boundaries of CD blocks are required to be demarcated in consultation with the field functionaries of the Rural Development Department, the Special Secretary of the department has issued fresh communication directing ACDs, BDOs and other concerned officers of the department to extend full cooperation to the Deputy Commissioners”, they said.
Sources informed that the demarcation reports of the Deputy Commissioners would also include the land identified for construction of new administrative units and the places where the new units can be made operational as a short term measure.
It is pertinent to mention here that Cabinet Sub-Committee, which burnt mid-night oil before recommending creation of 659 administrative units, has also recommended that Finance and Planning Departments should arrange funds for making these units functional.
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