Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today strongly advocated for the return of Salal and Dulhasti power projects to the State from NHPC.
“The Rangarajan Committee has recommended certain hydroelectric power projects be returned to the State free of cost. We reiterate this demand and request that requisite compensation to NHPC for such projects be paid by the Central Government,” he said addressing the joint meeting of 14th Finance Commission and State Government officers here.
The Chief Minister made a strong case for raising free power quota from existing 12 per cent to 30 per cent in all Centre sector Hydroelectric Projects (HEPs) in the State.
Omar also sought compensation to the State for Indus Water Treaty that restricts Jammu and Kashmir from exploiting hydel power and irrigation potential in full measure.
Welcoming Chairman Y V Reddy and the members of the 14th Finance Commission, Omar expressed the hope that the Memorandum submitted by the State Government to the Commission will fully depict the financial difficulties of the State.
“We in Jammu and Kashmir have passed through difficult times and faced daunting challenge of reconstruction of an insurgency battered economy.
“Also since inclusive and equitable development of the three regions of the State stands at the core of our Government’s agenda, the delivery of basic services and public goods across the diversity and remoteness of the State requires generous and sympathetic financial support,” he said.
“The 13th Finance Commission indeed gave us a very generous award. We are hopeful that the new Government at the Centre and you as the 14th Finance Commission would view our constraints, concerns and expectations through a positive and sympathetic lens and help us in carrying forward our development agenda of building on peace dividends,” he added.
The Chief Minister also spoke on the increase in expenditure on security related aspects, including State during the last about 25 years and underlined the need for the Centre compensating the State fully on this account.
The Chief Minister made the mention of the State’s initiatives to harness vast hydel power potential to upgrade State’s financial position.
“We have started indigenous projects of over 1,400 MW in this tenure against 750 MW launched in last 60 years. Edifice stands laid to generate 9,000 MW of energy over the next seven years,” he said.
On delivering social services to people living in extreme climatic and geographical conditions and to the cold desert of Ladakh, Abdullah said this is a big challenge of governance.
“To bridge the administrative outreach gaps, the State Government has recently created 46 Sub-Divisions, 135 Tehsils, 177 Blocks, 301 Niabats and 2526 Patwar Halqas,” he said.
He sought “special attention” of the Commission towards Panchayati Raj institutions in the State which he said were eagerly awaiting to perform a greater role in the arena of local self governance.
Reddy, in his address, referred to the dynamism of the Chief Minister and appreciated his efforts to seek holistic development for Jammu and Kashmir.
The chairman also congratulated the State for successful fiscal targets and assured that the 14th Finance Commission will take the best account of the demands put forth by the State in the Memorandum and said that the Commission will help in best way to the State to enable it to have quantum jump in the trajectory of growth and progress.
The Chief Minister mentioned the initiatives taken by the Government to provide responsive, transparent and accountable administration and referred to the enactment of Legislations like J&K Public Service Guarantee Act 2011, establishment of Institutions of State Information Commission and Vigilance Commission and added that 11 new services have been added to PSGA taking the number of total services under its ambit to 80.
“Suitable amendments are being proposed in the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act to make it more stringent for carrying forward the crusade against corruption. The Government have also introduced 3rd Party Monitoring of development programmes to ensure complete transparency and accountability. The State won accolades at the National level for implementing the Results Framework Document (RFD) aimed at making governance result-oriented and making performance appraisal more scientific”, he added.
The Chief Minister sought generous award from 14th Finance Commission for the State and said that the Memorandum presented by the State Government to the Commission in this regard lists need driven and the State specific demands to give impetus to economic activities. He mentioned the holding of Panchayat Elections in the State against all odds after a gap of over 30 years and said that these institutions are now eagerly awaiting to perform a greater role in the arena of local self governance and “their needs also merit your special attention”, Omar said.
The Chief Minister said that J&K has come out of very difficult and prolonged phase of militancy. He said the revival of horticulture, tourism, and handicrafts, is a very strong demonstration of positive change.
“We hope that the confidence of outside investors for giving push to industrial and manufacturing activities particularly in the Valley will receive further boost in the times to come”, he said and concluding his speech while saying “we all aspire for the growth and development of a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir founded on the cherished values of brotherhood, tolerance and harmony. Considerable success has been achieved in the realization of these objectives and our achievement will be far more meaningful if all sections of our society reap the dividends of our success. We need fullest support in this journey.
Principal Secretary Finance B. B. Vyas in a PowerPoint presentation highlighted the areas requiring focus of attention by the 14th Finance Commission to achieve the stupendous goals set for the all round development of the State equitably and in an inclusive manner.
While substantiating his points, Vyas justified the State’s genuine needs for liberal financing. He touched all the sectors of development giving details of financial and physical achievements besides the initiatives Jammu and Kashmir Government has taken to manage financial affairs and upgrade its resources.
In his vote of thanks, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather welcomed the Chairman and the Members of 14th Finance Commission and expressed the hope that the 14th Finance Commission will award liberally to the State so that its development process gets considerable push.
The 14th Finance Commission team led by its Chairman Y. V. Reddy comprised Members Dr. Sudipto Mundle, Dr. M. Govinda Rao, Prof. Abhijeet Sen, M S Sushma Nath and Secretary A. N. Jha.
An official handout said the 14th FC also interacted with representatives of political parties, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and trade and industry associations.
The Commission placed on record, it’s appreciation to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the State Government for the cooperation and support extended to the Commission and assured that the issues raised would receive due attention in the deliberations of the Commission.
Giving these details in a press release issued by Secretary Finance Commission, A N Jha said the Commission also looks forward to continuing interaction with the State Government.
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