Municipal polls to follow Panchayat elections: Dy CM

               Jammu, March 18 (Scoop News) –  Deputy Chief Minister,  Tara Chand who also holds the charge of Housing & Urban Development Department has rubbished  the allegations of discrimination among regions or areas of the State  in the allocation of funds for development works.

                Replying to the discussion on Demands for Grants of the departments under his charge this afternoon, the Deputy Chief Minister said the State is a one single administrative unit and all the regions and areas belong to the people of the State. He said soon after he took over the charge of the department, he ensured that all needy areas are reflected in the development planning of the department.

                On the problems of urban areas,  Tara Chand said there has been an alarming increase in population which has led to an unplanned growth of residential areas, he said. He said efforts are on to check this unplanned growth and rationalize the urban infrastructure.

                He said the government is contemplating to bring in legislation so that Municipal Bodies can stand on their own and perform their functions smoothly.

                The Deputy Chief Minister announced that a Tax Board Bill is being introduced in the State legislature for rationalization of service tax in cities and towns.

                Regarding Dal Conservation,  Tara Chand said that land mass over 1.15 sq km area has been converted into water surface by conducting dredging in the Dal Lake.  Appreciating the work done by the LAWDA, the Deputy Chief Minister said that development and beautification of fore-shore road has been completed besides restoration of 33 springs in the Dal Lake. The work on restoration of 25 springs is apace,  Tara Chand added. He said Rs 172 crore have been incurred to check soil erosion and flow of sewage and nutrients in the Dal from the catchment area.

                 Tara Chand also announced that elections to the Municipal Bodies would be conducted soon after the completion of the panchayat elections to ensure decentralization of power at the grass-root level. He reiterated the commitment that equitable development and justice to each region will be ensured while fixing plan allocations.

                The Deputy Chief Minister said that the J&K Housing Board, Jammu Development Authority and Srinagar Development Authority has been asked to create land banks for construction of new housing colonies to provide residential plots to the needy people, adding that allotment of plots to MLAs and media persons is also under consideration.

                Later, the House passed grants worth Rs 91899.48 lakh by voice vote for the departments of Housing and Urban Development after the concerned members withdrew their cut motions.

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