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Regional bias mars distribution of additionalities

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/25/2013 12:24:07 AM

Jammu gets Rs 13564 lakhs against Rs 15750 lakhs for Kashmir in 3 yrs

JAMMU, Mar 24: Notwithstanding the claims of coalition government, a discernible regional bias has marred the distribution of additionalities for development works, with Jammu region getting Rs 13564 lakhs against Rs 15750 lakhs for Kashmir region in the last three years.
This differential treatment was visible even in case of Jammu and Srinagar districts and in the border districts of two regions.
Additionalities are released on the basis of requirements assessed and projected by the different departments, to meet development requirements on ground especially which are emergent in nature, to fulfill the demands projected by the MLAs in the District Development Board meetings.
As per the official statistics, the Planning department, which till January 15, 2013 was under the charge of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, released Rs 1966.12 lakhs as additionalities to Srinagar district. However, Jammu district received a total additionality of Rs 1864.63 lakhs during the period of 2009-12.
On the whole, during the last three years, Kashmir region received Rs 15750 lakhs as additionalities while Jammu region received Rs 13564 lakhs under the same head.
Even the border districts in both Jammu and Kashmir region were discriminated by the Omar Abdullah government when it came to releasing funds for these frontier districts.
In comparison to Rs 1931 lakhs for Kupwara, Poonch district received Rs 1665 lakhs as additionality. Similarly Budgam received Rs 1625 lakhs while Rajouri got Rs 1311 lakhs as additionality in its kitty.
On the other hand, Ganderbal district received an additionality of Rs 1687 lakhs during 2009-12, while Doda received an additionality of Rs 1270 lakhs in the last three years.