Major focus on Central projects, regular reviews
*Ladakh LG calls on PM
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 6: The Union Cabinet was tonight reported to have discussed and given nod to North East type package for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under which some of the Central projects will get 100 percent funding and the Union Ministers or their Secretaries will tour the two UTs once in every month to review the projects under their Ministries and ensure their timely completion.
“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will undergo significant transformation and will be made models of development,” sources told the Excelsior.
The Cabinet met in the Union capital today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and development boost for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which came into existence on October 31, was one of the issue of discussion, sources said, adding the Cabinet was reported to have given go ahead for North East type developmental package to the two UTs.
While the package was expected to be unveiled in next couple of days, sources said some of the Central projects would get 100 percent funding in the two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on the pattern of eight North Eastern States.
“The flagship programmes of the Central Government will get top priority in the two newly created Union Territories after bifurcation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
According to them, every Union Minister or their Secretaries will tour the Union Territories quite frequently to monitor progress on developmental projects of their Ministries to ensure that they don’t miss the timelines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have regularly been reviewing and taking feedback on developmental works of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Sources said the North Eastern Model of development, which was implemented by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, who holds Independent charge of North Eastern States, was found most suitable by the Central Government for development of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, after detailed discussions.
“Various Central Ministries including the Home, Finance, Industries and Commerce, Health and Medical Education, Tourism, Human Resources Development and Road and National Highways, were working on bringing investments and approve new projects for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to give boost to development and employment,” sources said.
Besides holding meetings within the Ministries, top officials of the Central Government were also holding regular conversations with functionaries of the two Union Territories for development of the UTs, sources said.
The Central Government was also trying to bring investments in the industrial sector by the major companies in the two Union Territories, sources said, adding the Government was of the view that the industry would generate employment in the UTs and wean away the youth from indulging in “undesirable activities”.
Other sectors on which the Central Government is working included Tourism, Health, Education, Roads and National Highways and development of border areas. Newly elected Block Development Councils (BDCs) and Panchayats were also set to get sufficient funds for development of the rural areas after having received the first installment.
“The Block Development Councils and Panchayats have become quite significant institutions in both the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the Centre as well as UT Governments proposed to give them “more than adequate grants”, which will not only boost the institutions but also lead to development of the rural areas,” sources said.
Grants ranging between Rs 20 lakh to Rs one crore have been given to every Panchayat depending upon their area and population, sources pointed out.
The Union Territory of Ladakh, sources said, would be in need of massive Central funding in the beginning as it virtually had negligible resources or tax base of its own and was dependent only on the tourists flocking the two districts.
The Central Government was planning to shortly announce work on Zojila tunnel, rail line to Leh via Bilaspur and Manali in Himachal Pradesh, expansion of airports in Leh and Kargil etc. to give all weather connectivity to the newly created Union Territory, which remains closed by the road link for four to five months due to snow on Leh-Srinagar National Highway.
“As the Union Territories are directly Government by the Centre, the Government proposed to initiate infrastructure development works and promotion of tourism, which was major sources of employment in both the UTs,” sources said.
Meanwhile, RK Mathur, first Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and was with him for over 20 minutes, sources said.
Prior to meeting with Modi, Mathur had called on President Ram Nath Kovind and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He was also scheduled to meet some more functionaries of the Central Government.
Though there was no official word, sources said Mathur was reported to have discussed the development plan for the Union Territory of Ladakh with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
While Umang Narula, former Principal Secretary to previous Governor Satya Pal Malik, has already been posted as Advisor to Mathur, Inspector General of Police SS Khandare was posted as Head of Police. However, the Government was yet to name the Chief Secretary and some other Administrative Secretaries for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
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