Jammu,July 22 (Scoop News) -–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 is being 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 is 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 crores Plan for the District for the year 2012-13.
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 distirct, 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 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 crore 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 Abdullah said that Rs. 35 crores have been spent on macadamization of Jammu city roads last year while Rs. 20 crores were spent on black topping of rural roads. He said as many as 200 roads have been upgraded last year while 257 roads are being black topped this year. He said that an amount of Rs. 50 crore is being incurred on macadamization of roads in the district this year. He said that arrangements of funds for Jammu circular road are being worked out. He said under PMGSY 20 new schemes are being taken up in hand.
The Chief Minister said that the construction of Bikram Chowk Flyover is likely to be taken in hand by December this year. He said utility shifting and land acquisition process for the project is on. He said 8-laning of B. C. Road is linked with the Rehabilitation and Re-location 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 is going on apace adding that 4th bridge is likely to be completed in November-December this year. He said he has asked the concerned department to fast track work on approach roads so that benefit of the bridge accrues to the people.
The Chief Minister said that Rs. 500crore-project for providing safe drinking water to greater Jammu by utilizing Chenab water is 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 will be prepared and preferred to the Bank for finances. He said STP at Baghwati Nagar is 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 is coming up at cost of Rs. 20 crores while as Jammu Convention Complex is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 24.10 crores and Rs. 5 crores have been earmarked for its construction this year. He said Rs. 27 crores have been arranged for Mubarak Mandi Complex while Rs. 5 crores has been earmarked for Abhinav Theatre. He said 88 kanals of land has been 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.
The Chief Minister said that his government has 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 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.