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J&K Planning Board this year: Omar

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/23/2012 1:44:26 AM

Approves Rs 105.62-cr plan for Jammu

JAMMU, Jul 22: Underscoring the comprehensive planning as an important aspect in the equitable and holistic development of the state, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Sunday said that State Planning Board would be constituted this year to achieve the development goals in consonance with the aspirations of the people.
The Chief Minister said that reaching out to all areas in development process and mitigating the difficulties of people was focused concern of the coalition government adding that a well defined State Planning Board would address all issues pertaining to the development demands across the state.
Chairing the Jammu District Development Board meeting here today, the Chief Minister approved Rs 105.62 Cr plan for the district for the year 2012-13.
The Chief Minister said that the management of planning and allocation of suitable funds to all areas across the state in accordance with the public demand is an uphill task in a state like Jammu and Kashmir where the indigenous income is meagre and losses on supply of electricity amount to about Rs 2500 Cr annually.
“We are thankful to the union government for providing handsome funds to the state to carry forward development process. However, the funds allocated are not untied. We have to abide by the allocations earmarked for particular projects,” he said underlining the need for increase in the state’s own resources.
On the development of Jammu, Omar said that Rs 35 Cr have been spent on macadamization of Jammu city roads last year while Rs 20 Cr were spent on black topping of rural roads. He said as many as 200 roads were upgraded last year while 257 roads were being black topped this year. He said that an amount of Rs 50 Cr was being incurred on macadamization of roads in the district this year. He said that arrangements of funds for Jammu circular road were being worked out. He said under PMGSY 20 new schemes were being taken up in hand.
The Chief Minister said that the construction of Bikram Chowk Flyover was likely to be taken in hand by December this year. He said utility shifting and land acquisition process for the project was on. He said 8-laning of B C Road was linked with the rehabilitation and relocation of large number of affected traders and households. “We are working on the issue and negotiation with Asian Development Bank in this regard is also on,” he said.
Omar said that work on artificial lake and 4th bridge on river Tawi was going on apace adding that 4th bridge was likely to be completed in November-December this year. He said he asked the concerned department to fast track work on approach roads so that benefit of the bridge accrued to the people.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 500 Crore-project for providing safe drinking water to greater Jammu by utilizing Chenab water was being negotiated with Asian Development Bank. “We have received positive indication from the Bank in this regard,” he said adding that DPR for the project would be prepared and preferred to the Bank for finances. He said STP at Baghwati Nagar was likely this year adding that Rs 10 Crores were spent on the upgradation of drainage system in the district during the last year.
On high profile projects, the Chief Minister said that a modern abettor would be coming up at cost of Rs 20 Cr while Jammu Convention Complex was being constructed at a cost of Rs. 24.10 Cr and Rs 5 Cr were earmarked for its construction this year. He said Rs 27 Cr were arranged for Mubarak Mandi Complex while Rs 5 Cr were earmarked for Abhinav Theatre. He said 88 kanals of land was identified for Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
The Chief Minister directed the District Development Commissioner, Jammu to identify land for Shamshan Ghats at various places in Jammu district the demand for which was highlighted in the Board meeting by the legislators. He asked the District Development Commissioner to prepare report and submit the same to the Planning Department for funding in this regard.
He said that his government provided more power to the consumers in Jammu this year as compared to the last year. “However, the degree of satisfaction among consumers does not appear to correlate with the enhancement made in power supply,” he said asking the Power Development Department to look into this aspect and take appropriate measures to mitigate the difficulties of people.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Industries, S S Slathia, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Vice Chairmen of Advisory Boards, Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, Rachpal Singh, B A Naaz, Swaran Lata Bhagat, Kuldeep Raj Verma, Legislators from Jammu district, Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore, B. R. Bhagat, Yashpal Kuindal, Ajat Shatru Singh, Sukhnandan, Bharat Bushan, Bimla Luthra, Indu Pawar, B R Kundal, Gharu Ram, Sham Lal Choudhary, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning, B B Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Pradeep Gupta, IG Jammu, Dilbagh Singh, Heads of the Departments, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma and other district officers.
The District Development Commissioner in PowerPoint presentation presented resume of the physical and financial achievements registered in the district during the last year. He presented the details of the current district plan and highlighted the demands projected by the legislators.
The legislators in their speeches talked about development of the constituencies they represent and demanded additional packages. They placed on record the dynamism and keen interest of the Chief Minister in the holistic and equitable development of all areas of the state and for the welfare of all sections of the society. They expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister praising his new initiatives and measures aimed at realizing peaceful and progressive Jammu and Kashmir.