Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 16: Lack of coordination between the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) and top brass of various departments is creating hurdles in the implementation of District Development Board (DDB) decisions, which otherwise are taken after analyzing the developmental gaps and aspirations of the people of the particular district.
This can be gauged from the fate of key decisions taken by the District Development Boards of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the presence of the then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on June 24, 2015.
As per the information gathered by EXCELSIOR from the official sources, District Development Commissioners of these two districts are awaiting funds, formal orders and necessary communications from the concerned departments in order to translate many decisions of DDBs into reality.
While Boards of these districts are going to meet once again to finalize Annual Plan for current financial year but implementation of earlier decisions paints a gloomy picture.
What to talk of major projects requiring funds from the Finance Department, even small works like establishment of parks are getting delayed inordinately for want of formal approvals from the concerned departments, sources said, adding “in case of many projects even Detailed Project Reports and Feasibility Reports have not been received from the departments concerned despite the lapse of nearly 12 months”.
As far as Rajouri district is concerned, it was decided in the last DDB meeting chaired by the then Chief Minister that an amount of Rs 1 crore would be immediately placed at the disposal of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri for development of Rajouri town. However, only Rs 24 lakh were released that too on March 24, 2016 as a result of which the same could not be spent for the intended purpose.
“Due to this, the development of Rajouri town by carrying out different nature of works remains a distant dream and the decision of DDB unimplemented”, sources said.
Similarly, it was also decided in the last DDB meeting that land compensation issue pertaining to Abdullah Bridge in Rajouri would be resolved as early as possible but the issue is still mocking at the district administration. “No funds have been released for this specific purpose till date”, sources informed.
Another important decision taken by the last DDB was pertaining to the establishment of Industrial Training Institutes at Kotranka and Darhal. “How an institute can be established in the absence of funds”, remarked a senior officer of the Rajouri administration on the condition of anonymity, adding “what to talk of funds the Technical Education Department has not even issued formal order in this regard”.
As far as Poonch district is concerned, it was decided in the last DDB meeting that historic Poonch Fort would be developed. “The only development that has taken place with regard to this decision is initiation of exercise for preparation of Detailed Project Report”, sources informed.
“Similar is the fate of decision vis-à-vis examining viability for revival of cement plant at Sathra in Mandi area”, sources said, adding “the Industries Department should have taken a final call on the issue of cement plant but the department is still sleeping over the decision despite lapse of nearly one year”.
In order to give fillip to the tourism promotion and provide recreational facilities to the people, the DDB had decided to develop park at Jallian near Budha Amarnath Mandi and take up Krishan Chander Park at Poonch under heritage tourism.
Stating that there is absolutely no progress on both these decisions, sources said “as far as park at Jallian is concerned, the approval to the Detailed Project Report of Rs 4.45 crore is awaited during the past several months”.
Even no step has been initiated to assess feasibility for ropeway from Loran to Tosha Maidan. This is notwithstanding the fact that district administration had written to the Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation several months back. “We have not received any communication from the Corporation”, said an officer of the Poonch district administration.
About renovation of Town Hall Poonch as heritage building, which was also one of the decisions of the DDB, sources said, “no development has taken place till date because Tourism Department and Municipal Committee are passing buck on each other instead of joining hands to give practical shape to the decision taken in the presence of the then Chief Minister”.
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