SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, Oct 4: The members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) staged a walkout from the House today in protest against the delay in setting up of central university at Jammu, even as some legislators flayed the government for failing to implement the decisions taken at district development board meetings.
The House witnessed pandemonium as a series of heated exchanges took place between opposition and ruling party members. BJP and JKNPP lashed out at the state government over delay in setting up of the central university in winter capital. As soon as the question hour in the Assembly concluded at around 10:30AM, leader of BJP in the state Assembly, Chaman Lal Gupta, got up from his seat and while addressing the chair said, “Twelve out of fourteen central universities are functioning completely, while universities at Jammu and Kashmir are yet to be set up.”
“What kind of justice is this that if in one region is facing turmoil the other will also pay its price,” he said. “If Jammu region is peaceful then what is it that has stopped the government from setting up the university there?”
Gupta said that the delay has proved that Jammu is being discriminated against.
“Ministers are sitting here and they must answer,” he said. “We have every right to know about the fate of both the central universities.”
He said that land had been identified at Samba for the construction of the Jammu central university, but work never started.
In reply, minister for finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, said, “Presently, I don’t have any information about it. Once I will gather the information, I will be in the position to reply.”
However, members of BJP and JKNPP continued to ask for the reply. The issue sparked a ruckus in the House. The members asked the Speaker LA, Mohammad Akbar Lone, that they should be given the reasons for delay in setting up of the Jammu central university.
After failing to get reply from the government, the angry members staged walkout from the House while raising slogans.
After BJP and JKNPP members left the House, MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami chipped in. “Injustice is done to Kashmiris only.”
MLA Langate, Engineer Abdul Rashid, also stood up from his seat and lashed out at the government for launching fresh crackdown against youth.
Meanwhile, the state government has said that Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has been appointed to get the land for setting up of central university in Kashmir. Speaking in the Legislative Council, in reply to the question raised by senior Congress leader and MLC, Haji Ali Mohammad Bhat, minister for higher education, Abdul Gani Malik said that land had already been identified at Ganderbal for setting up of Kashmir central university.
“The government has appointed divisional commissioner Kashmir for fixing the compensation rate with the farmers and take the possession of the land,” he said.
In reply to a question of Jahangir Hussain Mir in the Legislative Council today, Malik also said that 61 kanals of land were identified for Poonch campus of Jammu University at Poonch.
He said University Campus of Jammu University at Poonch was established in February, 2008 and is operating from Government Degree College.
He said an amount of Rs 100 lakh was released as Grant-in-Aid for the development of the said campus during last year. He said during the current financial year an amount of Rs 40 lakh has been approved as Grant-in-Aid for infrastructural development of the campus. He assured work on construction work of the campus shall be expedited.
The heated exchange of words broke out between minister for health, Sham Lal Sharma, and BJP legislator, Jugal Kishore, over Indira Gandhi Dental College Jammu.
The House witnessed pandemonium as some legislators and members of ruling coalition engaged in a heated exchange over non-implementation of decision taken at district development board meetings. The members also alleged that additional funds were being allotted to some districts.
In reply, minister for finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, said that government was committed to strengthen District Development Boards (DDBs) for speedier development of all areas.
He said that decisions taken in Board meetings about district plans are implemented in letter and spirit, adding that, however, decisions are sometimes taken beyond its jurisdiction for which implementation becomes difficult.
Replying to joint questions by Harshdev Singh on behalf of Balwant Singh Mankotia and Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo, the minister gave detailed account of district plan outlays. He said Rs 1632.29 crore have been allotted to 22 districts of the state for execution of various developmental activities under district plan during the current financial year. Of which, an amount of Rs 127.06 crore have been utilized on execution of various development projects, besides other activities in these districts under district plan till July end, he said.
The minister said that over Rs 23.41 crore have been released as additionalities to 22 districts of the state under district plan for completion and accelerating the developmental projects during the month of March 2009.
Rather said that the developmental activities under district plan are to be approved by the District Development Board. He said the development activities taken up in the districts under State Plan and other special programmes do not need the approval of the District Development Boards. He, however, said that additionalities are released by the Planning and Development Department to accelerate the developmental process in the districts and to meet the genuine demands of the members of District Development Boards besides legislators.
Giving details of the action taken report of the decisions taken by District Development Board, Kishtwar during 2009-10 and 2010-11, the minister informed the House that a total of 17 decisions were taken out of which, eight have been implemented and rest are at different stages of implementation.
Rather said that in the concerned DDB review meeting held during December 2009, 17 recommendations were made out of which 7 have been implemented, adding that in the board meeting of July 2010, the DDB besides finalization of the annual plan of 2010-11, 8 decisions were taken and 37 recommendations made. He said minutes in this regard have been issued by the concerned District Development Commissioner for follow up action to the concerned departments and agencies and the action taken report shall be placed before the District Development Board in the next review meeting.
The minister said that district plans are formulated in consultation with concerned members of District Development Boards. He said the post of Area Development Officer for Marwah Block has been created July and Divisional Forest Officer, Marwah has been assigned the charge of the post till it is filled up on substantive basis.
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