Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Rejecting the allegations of discrimination in funds allocation to any region in the State, Minister for Planning and Development, Labour and Employment, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today said that every region has got its due in the financial allocations over the years.
Wrapping up the discussion on demand of grants for the departments under his control in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister said, “the figures of 11th Five Year Plan indicate that there has been equal distribution of resources among various regions of the State”, adding “48.28% funds were allocated to Kashmir region while as Jammu received 47.26% and Ladakh region 4.46% of funds during the five year plan”.
He said that in terms of capital investment, Kashmir region received an investment of Rs 1858 per capita while as Jammu received Rs 2350 per capita and Ladakh region received Rs 4082 per capita investment during the 11th plan period. He said these figures should be eye opener for those creating the hoax of disparity in the distribution of funds.
Terming District Development Boards (DDB) as an important constituent of planning process, the Minister said, “Government is making efforts to strengthen these institutions to further consolidate the concept of single line administration in the State which was introduced by late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in late 70’s, adding “during the last three years, 2054 decisions were taken at various DDB meetings out of which 1388 decisions were implemented and 666 decisions are under various stages of implementation”. The delay, he said, has been either due to financial implications or other technical reasons.
Mr Sadhotra said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has time and again stressed the need for monitoring and evaluation to ensure that funds percolate down to the ground without any pilferage at any level. He said for the first time in the State third party monitoring of projects has been introduced and a reputed agency like NABCONS has been engaged for the purpose. So far they have evaluated 109 projects and given reports while as 87 projects are under evaluation, he added.
The Minister said that to strengthen accountability and make works target specific, Government has introduced the concept of Results Framework Document (RFD). This would not only improve accountability within the system but also help in evaluating the governance pattern, he added.
He said that due to the efforts of the Chief Minister the Centre has so far released Rs 1509 crore under Special Plan Assistance while as Rs 300 crore have been placed with Finance Department by the Planning Commission of India and another Rs 184 crore are in the pipeline. He said the Chief Minister has taken up with the Centre to treat all centrally sponsored schemes on 90:10 ratio as is prevalent in the North Eastern States.
Giving details of the various big ticket projects coming up in the State, Mr Sadhotra said Rs 772 crore Greater Jammu Water Supply Scheme has been formulated, which will cater to the drinking water needs of the area for the coming 30 years. He said work on Rs. 351 crore Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover would start from next month and rehabilitation plan of the same is currently under consideration.
Similarly he said Rs 95.50 crore Bikram Chowk flyover project is almost ready for take-off and so is the multi-storeyed parking project for Srinagar and Jammu cities.
The Minister said M/s RITES has prepared a report of Rs 33000 crore traffic decongestion projects for Srinagar and Jammu which would soon be taken up with the Planning Commission. He said 90 projects under Economic Reconstruction Agency have been completed and 27 would be ready by September 2013. He said various other works are also underway under Prime Minister constituted Rs 150 crore Special Task Force. This year, he said, Rs 128 crore have been expended under BADP and Rs 42.30 crore under BRGF programmes in the state.
On the issue of labour welfare, the Minister said, “daily wages of both skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers have been enhanced and hoped it would be further increased in coming years”, adding “under the Voluntary Service Allowance so far Rs 26 crore were spent and it would go up to Rs 48 crore till the end of this year”.
Later, the House passed the grants of the departments with voice vote.
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