Nishikant Khajuria
Despite being represented by Harshdev Singh of Panthers Party, who has been adjudged as Best MLA by the Legislative Assembly and often described as one of the most efficient legislators in respects of discharging his duties, Ramnagar Assembly constituency too has some grievances and complaints.
While a number of locals give all credit to Harshdev Singh for the developmental works, which are also evident on ground, critiques of the sitting MLA mince no world in pinning holes.
Monopolization of Government schemes, politicization of employee-force and vote bank politics in policy decisions are some of the allegations hurled on Harshdev Singh who has been representing the Ramnagar Assembly constituency for the third consecutive terms since 1996.
Even as Harshdev Singh’s constituency has the distinction of having highest number of schools, Ramnagar town has no Girls Higher Secondary School while problems like inadequate teaching staff and infrastructure are prevalent here also affecting studies of the students. HSS Khaned, HSS Keya, HSS Chowki, HSS Thail, HSS Garh Samna Banj, HS Rang, HS Kotwalt, HS Bainsta, HS Balota, HS Satyein, HS Dehari, HS Motu are some examples in this regard.
There is no denial of the fact that Education sector has received focused attention with a big number of new schools having been opened in Ramnagar constituency, upgrading schools on political considerations and projecting less deserving schools at the cost of more deserving ones is another complaint of some villages against the MLA.
Contrary to the tall claims of big achievements, ITI College at Ramnagar is only on papers. Just a board was slung at village Kirmoo in Ramnagar tehsil some 10 years back but no steps have been taken for setting up the institute.
Dozens of new water supply schemes have been launched in the area but around one-third population of the constituency is still deprived of pure drinking water facility. Several schools, Anganwari centres and Panchayat Ghars are without drinking water provision. In Manwal, water from a nearby cremation ground is over-flowing into the water-supply tank and Manwal, Chaini, Telay, Devi Bani and other villages are forced to drink this contaminated water. In Majalta, overflowing stream from a nearby nallah is pouring in the non-covered tank supplying water to the people.
Installation of hand-pumps by the Ground Water Authorities on alleged political considerations despite objections by the technical authority has led to an ugly consequence and a number of them have dried up. Tube-well at Dalsar costing about two crores, has failed to pump out even a single bucket of water, said Rajinder Gupta.
While some remote areas are yet to be electrified, a number of transformers installed under RGGVY are out of order and have not been replaced since two-three years, said Haji Mohd Din, chairman of Panchayat Thial. At village Sanal, only one phase of the transfer is functional for the last four year and despite repeated pleas of the villagers, nothing has been done for improving the power supply, he added.
As far as Health Services are concerned, no new Health Sub-Centre or Medical Aid Centre has been opened up in the area since 1996. Sub-District Hospital Ramnagar, catering about 2 lakh of populace has not an Anaesthesia specialist thereby making it impossible for doctors to undertake operations. PHCs at Majalta, Khoon, Bharnara, Basantgarh, Rang have no Gynaecologist. No Health institution has ‘snake bite’ counter systems. The demands of CHCs at Majalta and Basantgarh and Accidental Hospital at Dhar Road, Manwal and a CHC at Basantgarh have no takers.
A number of roads in the constituency have not been properly mettalled. Projects started under PMGSY since 2003-04 have not been completed till date. Funds under the head, ‘non-plan’ and ‘additionalites’ were allegedly gobbled up by blue-eyed favourites and in some cases, payments were made in advance and the works remained unfinished for years, alleged a social activist of the area on the condition of anonymity. A detailed inquiry into work of Manwal-Pinger road, Sunar road, Dhanu to Baryalta road, Tajoor-Peuni road, Ramnagar-Satyein road, Dalsar-Barota road, Pachoun road and all PMGSY roads in Ghordi block can reveal the alleged irregularities committed in such projects, he added.
Basantgarh to Khaned road has not been started despite more than two years since the sanctioning of specified amount and allotting of tenders. No heed was paid towards black-topping of Ramnagar to Ghordi, Chowki-Kotwalt road, Ramnagar to Sunetar road and Kulwanta to Garh Samna Banj roads. Work on Dudu-Ramnagar road under STF is also going on snail’s pace.
Crores of rupees spent in Ramnagar under IWDP were allegedly siphoned off. No structure create by IWDP is visible as on ground today. CAG reports repeatedly indicted it but no heed was paid while money was brazenly looted with least accountability and nil effect on ground, alleged Prem Nath, retired Master.
Economic level of people has not been lifted as no major projects for providing employment were initiated here. A big chunk of skilled, semi-skilled and other labour-force in organized and unorganized sectors in Jammu as well as other cities of the country hails from Ramnagar.
It is an irony that despite having wide potential in tourism, pilgrimage, adventure tourism, horticulture, sericulture, apiculture and even small-scale industries, people from Ramnagar have to shuttle from one State to another in search of bread and butter for their family, laments Surat Singh Sumbaria.
Nurturing tourism potential shall accelerate development in the area and boost local employment too. There are places and points in Ramnagar whose beauty and grace mars the choicest of tourist spots in Kashmir and other tourist places. Tourist spots at Tamdyal, Kair Gala, Ponara Shiv Gali, Ponara, Keya, Gandh Top, Pachound, Kot, Siameri, Dudu, are exquisitely beautiful and deserve to be developed as ideal tourist sites. Summer temperature of these areas is lower as compared to those in Kashmir or other tourist areas. Developing of Garh Samna Banj as a model spot for snow-skiing and Gondola project in Dudu-Basantgarh can attract more tourists, said Bharat Bhushan adding that Harshdev Singh should concentrate more on developing tourism for flourishing the constituency on economic front.
Even as some people have complaints and grievances, the list of achievements of Harshdev Singh as MLA for his constituency is extensive. Supporters of the sitting MLA reject all allegations against him terming the same as politically motivated and list the achievements made during the last 18 years. “Compare Ramnagar with other Assembly constituencies and you will find the difference in respect of developmental works initiated here,” said Girdhari Lal, Sarpanch of Krimchi.
Ramnagar tehsil is the first tehsil in the State to have a University Satellite campus where the construction work at a cost of Rs 15 crore is in progress while Ramnagar Degree College is the only degree college in the entire Jammu province which offers all graduates courses – Medical, Non-Medical, Commerce, Arts, BBA and BCA.
“There are more than 120 villages in Ramnagar constituency none of which had road connectivity at the time when I became MLA in 1996. All of the said villages have been connected by roads – whether Pacca or fair weather. There are only two villages of Punara and Khaned which are unconnected due to stay orders of the High Court restraining the construction of the said road,” Harshdev Singh told the Excelsior.
Ramnagar constituency is known in the State for getting the highest share of road network among all constituencies. The constituency is famous for revolution in road connectivity sector during the last few years. Apart from rural roads certain big road projects have been got sanctioned and constructed under ADB and State Task Force. The widening of Udhampur-Ramnagar road under ADB sponsored scheme has been got done through ERA. Likewise widening and upgradation of Ramnagar Dudu road is being undertaken under STF funding, the MLA further informed adding that in addition to roads, more than 100 bridges have been constructed on various Nallahs and rivers providing great relief to the people inhabiting the far off areas.
Besides launching a number of water supply schemes and installing hundreds of hand pumps, regular and un-interrupted power supply is another thrust area for which more than 300 new transformers with a Grid Station at Battal and two receiving stations, one each at Basantgarh and Chowki Jandror have been provided in the constituency, the MLA said.
Listing more achievements like developing lanes and drains, new parks etc, Harshdev Singh claimed that efforts were on to develop Ramnagar as a model town on most scientific lines.
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