Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla has blamed the PDP-BJP Coalition Government of depriving the Jammu people of basic amenities.
While addressing public gathering at Bathindi, Bhalla claimed that the unprecedented shortage of basic amenities in Jammu highlights the apathy of the ruling coalition which had failed to address the issues of the people. “Elections for Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) are overdue but the Government is least considerate in this regard. The absence of Panchayats and ULBs not only prevent decentralization of power but also block necessary development funds. The Central Government has suspended its financial grant for the local governing bodies because of delay in said elections. The State Election Commission has not been constituted yet as per Panchayati Raj Act,” he said.
Bhalla further said that the State will lose more Rs 4000 cr, issued by 14th Finance Commission, if polls are not held. The said funds include more than Rs 3117 cr for Panchayats and Rs 1044 cr for Urban Civic Bodies. Jammu and Kashmir has two Municipal Corporations, six Municipal Councils, 72 Municipal Committees and about 3200 Panchayats, all of which have no elected representatives at present, he added.
The Panchayati Raj Act 2011 enjoins State Governments to set up a State Election Commission, to be led by a retired IAS officer or an officer not below the rank of Commissioner Secretary, with experience in conduct of polls. The Commission’s mandate is to conduct local polls, including trade body elections. In absence of regulatory body, the State Government has vested these powers in itself. He further said that the Govt does not want to conduct polls in time because it will split its power.
Expressing concern over scarcity of essential commodities, Bhalla said that the administration must come out of the deep slumber and infuse responsiveness and an element of accountability in its machinery in order to mitigate sufferings of people. He further alleged that both the Central and State Governments miserably failed to create new employment opportunities for unemployed youth.
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