Directions passed over three years back still on papers
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 12: Several Administrative Departments have been paying scant attention towards the vital decisions taken by the District Development Boards of Rajouri and Poonch over one year back despite words of caution from the respective Chairmen. Moreover, for want of necessary cooperation, timely decision and financial assistance many directions passed from this platform over three years back are still on papers much to the disappointment of the people of twin border districts.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that District Development Board of Rajouri, in its meeting held on March 16, 2017 under the chairmanship of Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, was apprised that Rajouri Development Authority has formulated six projects including Rs 38.43 crore Eco-Tourism Park for Patli Qila and submitted the same to the Tourism Department for approval and release of funds.
Keeping in view importance of these projects from tourism promotion point of view, the District Development Board had stressed upon the Rajouri Development Authority to vigorously pursue the projects with the Tourism Department so as to ensure immediate start of work on these projects.
However, no seriousness was shown either by the Rajouri Development Authority or by the Tourism Department to strictly implement the directions of the DDB, sources said, adding the district administration on its part has carried out some works through convergence mode in respect of Eco-Tourism Park at Patli Qila but Tourism Department only released meager amount of Rs 20 lakh that too few days before the closure of 2017-18 financial year.
“For want of timely clearance of projects and subsequent release of sufficient funds the decision of the Rajouri DDB has remained unimplemented till date”, sources said, adding “similar is the fate of the decision regarding construction of hanging garden near Rajouri Fort by the Rajouri Development Authority as despite availability of sufficient land no major work was carried out during the past over one year”.
“Semi-finished cafeteria is the only work which is visible on ground”, sources said while disclosing that even encroachments have taken place on the land identified for hanging garden project.
The District Development Board had also directed for early construction of approach road to Abdullah Bridge but work is yet to be completed because of dilly-dallying approach on the part of Roads and Buildings Department, they said.
“What to talk of decisions of DDB meeting of 2017-18, the fate of decisions taken by the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at this platform in 2015 is also hanging in balance till date”, sources said while pointing towards establishment of ITI at Kotranka and Darhal in Rajouri.
Disclosing that land at both these places has been identified by the district administration, sources said, “Technical Education Department’s dilly-dallying approach in according formal sanction and release of funds has created impediment in translating the DDB decision of 2015 into reality”, adding “nobody knows when infrastructure for ITIs will come up”.
As far as Poonch district is concerned, the District Development Board in its meeting held on March 18, 2017 under the chairmanship of Minister for Horticulture Basharat Ahmed Bukhari had issued directions for expeditious completion of Mini-Secretariat at Poonch and re-start of work on Mendhar and Mandi Mini-Secretariats.
However, these directions have fallen on deaf ears of the concerned authorities of the project executing agencies as neither work on Mini-Secretariat Poonch could be completed nor the work was resumed on Mendhar and Mandi Mini-Secretariats, sources informed while expressing inability to specify time-frame for implementation of directions of DDB.
“Similar is the fate of decision regarding construction of air-strip in Surankote as Civil Aviation Department has failed to honor the decision of DDB, which was based on the persistent demand of the legislators”, sources said, “by not constructing air strip at Surankote the Civil Aviation Department has undermined the authority of DDB as well as disrespected the legislators”.
Disclosing that several decisions taken by former Chief Minister Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while chairing DDB meeting of Poonch in 2015 have also remained on papers despite lapse of over three years, sources said, “there is no substantial progress on reconstruction of 132 KV power transmission line from Draba to Chandak, development of Krishan Chander Park at Poonch under heritage tourism and development of Poonch Fort”.
“All this clearly establishes that Administrative Departments have been paying scant attention towards the decisions of DDBs and there is no coordination between district administration and those at the helm of affairs in different departments at Civil Secretariat”, sources said, adding “the prevailing situation is notwithstanding the fact that there were words of caution from Chairman of both DDBs about slackness at any level in timely implementation of DDB decisions”.
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