Excelsior Correspondent
Udhampur, May 9: Ranbir Singh Pathania, BJP spokesperson & former MLA has called for immediately making good MGNREGA liabilities as per the legal position in place.
“There is a system which mandates payment of MGNREGA works within stipulated time frame. And in case of delayed payments delay cess is also payable to the labourers. But in J&K it is a worst case that we have unpaid MGNREGA liabilities since the past five years. This has eroded the very essence and edifice of the scheme. Rather the credibility of the scheme has been put under question,” he said, while addressing monthly meeting of the party cadres, here today.
Mr Pathania stressed for reviewing ‘tender system’ launched by Government with much fanfare in RDD. Whereas, rule 49 of Panchayati Raj mandates that works not exceeding three lacs shall be done by the local Panchayat, resorting to such mass tenders with less advance training, capacity building and poor compatibility has led to a major portion of grants lying unspent and being surrendered at the end of financial year, he said and added that this year’s financial plan also has a major bulk of the works which have been declared as SOS (spill over schemes).
The former MLA also called for major brace up in drinking water supply in far flung areas of the district. He said due to acute drought conditions prevailing in the area, the water levels have dipped far below the normal range. This has made majority of people dependent on drinking water supply only, he said and called for bigger exploitation of drinking water supply systems by ensuring maximum pumping, minimum pilferage and 100 percent efficacious use with a view to tiding over the crisis.
Mr Pathania was also critical of the frequent and unsheduled power cuts which have proved dangerous for the people living in the far flung area. This has affected studies of school going children also and increased the propensity of wild animals and snakes creeping into the homes of people in this scorching summer, he added.
Among others, who participated in the interactions included Jattu Ram DDC Ramnagar-II, Mool Raj, DDC Ramnagar-I, Rakesh Bodhi, DDC Ghordi, Benti Devi, Chairperson MC Ramnagar, Rajesh Kharka Vice Chairman MC Ramnagar, Raj Gopal, Ranjeet Singh and Subash Chander.
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