Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 16: Governor NN Vohra today set the process into motion for formulation of annual plan, Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan (PMRP) and other Centrally Sponsored Schemes for next financial year of 2015-16 to project the amount before National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog well in time.
With the direction, the Planning and Development and Finance Departments of the Government would start the process of holding meetings with all 28 Departments in the State, which have been delayed by over one and a half months in view of Assembly elections followed by delay in formation of new Government in the State.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the meetings, which were generally taken by the Planning and Finance Secretaries in the start of December with HoDs and other concerned officers of all 28 Departments will start in a week’s time after Planning Department chalked out calendar for separate meetings.
“The meetings would be held to ascertain requirements of the Departments before the Planning and Finance Departments work out the annual plan and other amount to be sought from the newly constituted NITI Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commission of India. After the meetings are over, the Planning and Development and Finance Departments would meet officials including vice chairman of the Aayog to project their requirements.
During current financial year of 2014-15, the Union Government in the absence of any working mechanism in the then Planning Commission had approved Rs 7300 crores worth annual plan, Rs 600 crores under PMRP and Rs 4000 crores for Centrally Sponsored Schemes for Jammu and Kashmir. However, much amount in all three sectors was pending in the absence of any working Government in the State leading to financial crunch in treasuries and other sectors.
However, with Governor Rule now in force, the State officials were anticipating release of funds in all three sectors—annual plan, PMRP and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
Sources said the amount to be sought by Jammu and Kashmir under annual plan, PMRP and Centrally Sponsored Schemes would be decided only once the meetings with all Departments were over.
Though there was no possibility of full budget presentation in the Legislature in March this year even if the new Government was formed after Delhi Assembly elections, the Departments would be ready with their requirements. Even if the new Government was in place in February, it would be in a position to only take Vote-on-Account from the Legislature, which was mandatory on or before March 31. However, if formation of the Government was delayed, the Parliament would approve budget for the State.
Meanwhile, the Governor would tomorrow review flood relief and rehabilitation works in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, with top brass of the administration.
Mr Vohra would first inter-act with Civil Society members at SKICC and know their view point on relief and rehabilitation works post-September floods.
Later, he will hold high level meeting with top officers of the administration to review status of Central aid for flood victims, relief provided to the people affected by the floods and more measures required to help flood sufferers. The status of Rs 1000 crores sanctioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flood victims will also be reviewed.
Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Planning Secretary BR Sharma, Finance Secretary BB Vyas, Revenue Secretary Vinod Koul and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Rohit Kansal among others would attend the review meeting.
The Governor would later have a round of Srinagar City especially the colonies affected by the floods and works done by the administration there to help the people and restore infrastructure and provide relief and rehabilitation to the people.
Meanwhile, an official handout issued here said: “ Governor N N Vohra today commenced the process of formulation of annual plan for financial year 2015-16 and discussed the matter with Principal Secretary of Planning and Development B R Sharma’’.
The Governor discussed with Sharma issues relating to the annual plan for 2014-15 and the broad approach which could be practically followed for its formulation, a Raj Bhawan spokesman said.
During a review meeting at the Raj Bhawan today, Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday informed the Governor that as advised by him all the Administrative Secretaries had been directed to take time bound action on every matter of public interest and to bring about visible improvement in public service delivery.
The Governor asked the Chief Secretary to advise all Administrative Secretaries to identify the action to be taken to timely address important issues, the progress of which would be closely reviewed by the Chief Secretary. The Governor also discussed status of flood relief measures.
Sharma also briefed the Governor on the present status of various schemes which are aimed at the reconstruction of flood damaged assets under the Prime Minister’s Package for Floods.
He informed that an amount of Rs 234.96 crore had already been released to various departments. The Governor urged him to closely monitor the implementation of all the restoration projects.
The Governor shall be visiting Srinagar tomorrow to review flood relief measures there.
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