Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 29: Taking serious note of alleged manipulation in the Annual Plan for the Poonch district and complaints of Legislators particularly of ruling National Conference, the State Government has constituted an enquiry committee to examine the practice followed in the preparation of Draft Annual Plan and pin point the officers responsible for making changes by keeping the Legislators in dark. The committee has been directed to complete the task within a period of one month and submit a detailed report to the Government for necessary action.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during the District Development Board (DDB) meeting of the Poonch held on June 29, 2012 for finalization of annual plan, legislators from the district particularly National Conference MLA, Aijaz Jan pointed out that Draft Plan given to them a day earlier and the one placed before the Board were different as many works had been changed without their knowledge and consent.
This led to altercation and walkout with MLAs alleging nexus behind the manipulation in the Annual Plan. However, following the intervention of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the DDB, the issue was resolved on the assurance that plans prepared by the departments in consultation with the MLAs would be incorporated in the Annual Plan.
Later, based on the internal enquiry, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, placed Assistant Director Planning, Javed Ahmed under suspension for allegedly changing the approved Draft Plan, sources said, adding this action on the part of DDC was objected to by some Legislators, who alleged that Assistant Director was made scapegoat as he was only assisting the Assistant Commissioner Development in working out the Draft Plan. Moreover, it was pointed out that Assistant Commissioner Development was not put to question despite the fact that as per single line administration, ACD is Staff Officer to DDC and actually ACD was entrusted the task of working out Draft Plan by the DDC”.
In the meantime, National Conference legislator approached the Chief Minister with the complaint that district administration has not taken any action on the promises made with the legislators at the time of breaking deadlock, sources said, adding “he also alleged nexus behind changing the draft Annual Plan and sought a detailed enquiry”.
Assistant Director Planning, who was allegedly made scapegoat, also moved a plea before the Planning and Development Department mentioning that action was taken against him without giving him opportunity of being heard, sources said, adding the Planning Department also received a number of complaints relating to altering of plan without authorization or knowledge of authorities.
Taking serious note of alleged manipulation in the Annual Plan for the Poonch district and complaints of Legislators besides the representation of Assistant Director Planning, the Planning and Development Department has finally constituted a two member enquiry committee with the approval of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is also the Minister Incharge Planning, sources said, adding the committee comprising Rajinder Singh, Settlement Officer and Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Secretary, Planning has been directed to complete the task within a period of one month and submit detailed report to the Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department, B B Vyas.
The committee will examine the practice followed in preparation of Draft Annual Plan 2012-13, scrutinize all the officers and officials involved in the entire process, examine ACD and CPO for their role and various checks and balances adopted by them for ensuring that there is no manipulation in Draft Annual Plan, ascertain the role of Assistant Director Planning and other officers, sources informed.
It will also look into other aspects like repetition of works under various schemes in the same plan, dual allocation for schemes and taking up of works in contravention to the approved plan, sources further said.
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