* Rs 77 cr generated under Roshni Act
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq Khan today said that the Government would conduct elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies shortly.
Replying to a cludded question of Qaiser Jamshed Lone, Ali Mohammad Dar and Ashok Khajuria in the Upper House today, the Minister said that the Election Authority has announced the revision of Panchayat electoral rolls for which the process is going on.
He further said that an all party meeting has been called to discuss the issues related to the Panchayat elections.
The Minister said that directions have been passed to the concerned for completing the construction work on the incomplete Panchayat Ghars in various parts of the State for which funds are available under 13th Finance Commission.
Replying to a supplementary question, the Minister said the Government has adopted Electronic Fund Management System (EFMS) to clear MGNREGA dues through which the payment goes directly into the bank accounts of the job card holders. The material liabilities for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17 have also been released, he added.
Legislator Ghulam Nabi Monga and Ali Mohd Dar raised supplementary questions regarding security cover to the people contesting elections and time frame. The Minister claimed that when election process will start the security will also be taken care of moreover elections are being held shortly.
Meanwhile, the Government said that with the transfer of 21,530.5 acre of land to its occupants under Jammu and Kashmir State Land Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants Act, popularly known as Roshni Act, the State has fetched Rs 76.91 crore for the State exchequer.
Replying to a question of BJP MLC Vikram Randhawa in the Legislative Council, Revenue Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said Rs 7691.07 lakh have been generated from transfer of 1,72,244 kanals (21,530.5 acre) of land to occupants under J&K State Land Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants Act, 2001.
Of these, 5,614 acre were transferred to the occupants in Jammu district for Rs 15.96 crore, followed by 442 acre to occupants in Doda district for Rs 59.49 lakh, 2,297 acre in Ramban district transferred for Rs 1.03 crore and 1,672 acre in Reasi district for Rs 29.69 lakh.
In Udhampur, 1,326 acre were transferred to the occupants for Rs 1.31 crore, followed by 1,256 acre transferred to occupants in Kishtwar district for Rs 16.26 lakh.
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