Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Jan 25: Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister today lambasted the Govt for issuing a bizarre notification requiring the rural folk to seek prior permission from Patwari, Secretary Panchayat and Sarpanch before initiating construction of residential houses on even their own lands.
“Likewise the new rule providing for obtaining prior permission from SDM, Tehsildar and Town planner for construction of shops in rural areas is obnoxious and highly unjustified,” he said while addressing a press conference, here today after conducting tours of several remote villages of Chenani–Ghordi and Ramnagar constituency.
Harsh Dev Singh alleged that the Govt by enacting such regulations had only increased the channels of corruption besides creating numerous problems and complications for the rural folk already suffering on multifarious counts due to their gross neglect and deprivation at the hand of the BJP Govt.
Accusing the Govt of neglecting the rural and remote areas and subjecting them to continued incarceration for the last 6-7 years, the NPP Chairman urged upon the Lt Governor to take appropriate measures for addressing the concerns and mitigating the sufferings of the marginalized rural folk. The people were aggrieved not merely by the deprivation of basic amenities but more so by the most culpable apathy shown by the Govt towards their issues, he said.
Pointing towards the worsening power and water scenario in the rural areas, Mr Singh said that all tall talk of the Govt of ensuring ‘24×7 electricity’ and ‘water tap for each household’ had proved as cruel jokes played upon the rural folk. “The worse aspect is the utter lack of accountability and transparency in the functioning of various Govt deptts. The funds are being shown to have been spent on various schemes with hardly any tangible results having been shown on the ground. The MGNREGA workers are suffering for want of unpaid liabilities. The road connectivity in such areas is in shambles. The health centers have almost become defunct in the absence of medical equipments and requisite staff. The people in remote areas are even deprived of subsidized ration by taking the nasty plea that their Aadhar cards have not been ceded with ration cards,” said Harsh Dev Singh.
Manju Singh (General Secretary-JKNPP), Rampaul Bhagat (District President SC Cell Udhampur-NPP), Mohinder Singh and Ramesh Bhagat (senior NPP leaders) were also present in the press conference.
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