Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 7: For better coordination with the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up a Special Cell in New Delhi headed by a very senior IAS officer, who will take up issues of the State with various Central Ministries on regular intervals including the issue of delay in funding for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs).
Official sources told the Excelsior that the State Government hadn’t been able to “properly and adequately” project its case before the Centre Government on different issues including timely release of funds under several schemes, requirements on various other fronts including law and order situation etc.
Top Central Ministers had pointed out this (inadequate liaison) between them and J&K Government Ministers and officials during their meetings with Jammu and Kashmir Government Ministers and officials and wanted a mechanism to be in place so that the State demands are properly and timely projected before them and they are in a position to address them.
“In view of this, the State Government has now created a Special Cell in New Delhi in the office of Resident Commis-sioner, which will have exclusive task of maintaining liaison between Centre and State Governments,” sources said, adding that Krishan Ballabh Aggarwal, a very senior IAS officer, who had recently returned from Central deputation and was designated as Principal Secretary (Coordin-ation) in the office of Resident Commissioner, will take up the task of maintaining coordination between Centre and State. He would head the Special Cell that would coordinate between Centre and State Governments on a host of issues.
Sources said the new mechanism would benefit both Centre and State Governments.
Earlier, the State Government Ministers or their Administrative Secreta-ries had to rush to New Delhi for the problems that cropped up in release of funds or other hurdles in the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, other major projects etc. On some occasions, various Ministries of the Centre had to call the Administrative Secretaries from J&K for discussions.
This problem, sources said, would be reduced to quite an extent with the creation of full time Special Cell and posting of top IAS officer in New Delhi exclusively for the purpose of liaison between the Centre and State Governments.
Apart from dealing with the issues of funding in various sectors including the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the liaison between Centre and State would go a long way in helping each other at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was going through a phase of serious turmoil with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh holding regular meetings to review situation arising out of Kashmir unrest and steps required to control the situation.
“In such a scenario, the new system put in place by the State Government would help both Centre and J&K a lot,” sources said, adding that all the Administrative Secretaries have been asked to seek the help of New Delhi office whenever and wherever required.
Sources said various Ministries of the Centre Government especially which deal regularly with the Jammu and Kashmir Government have also been briefed about the new system formulated by the State Government for maintaining proper coordination and liaison with the Government of India.
The system will not be a temporary or short-term phenomenon but the Government proposed to make it a permanent feature, sources asserted.
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