Minister of State for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad addressing press conference
Jammu, March 09, (Scoop News)-Minister of State for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan today welcomed the steps taken by the Principal Accountant General in identifying the loopholes in the implementation of the Roshni scheme adding Government would look into the violations of norms wherever pointed out. However, he pointed out gaps in the report which he said should have been closed before preparing the said report.
Addressing a press conference here today, the Minister said the implementation of the Roshni scheme is already under review by the State Vigilance Commission and the CAG report in the routine course would be examined by the Public Accounts Committee of the State Legislature. He said Government won’t conceal anything nor would it protect any wrong doer.
Ajaz, however, said there are some glaring gaps in the report of the CAG pertaining to Roshni scheme. He said the amendments brought in the Roshni Act in 2007 were not constitutional ones but routine ones and as such needed simple majority of the House, not the 2/3rd majority as said in the report. The said legislation was cleared by both Houses of Legislature and even opposition parties had supported it, he added.
The Minister said the motive behind bringing Roshni Act was to muster funds for power generation in the State and an upper ceiling of 100 kanals was put. He said the aim was to benefit marginal and landless farmers in the State and around 60 thousand people, involving 3.60 lakh kanals of land, were benefitted. He said there was no contradiction between the Act and the rules of the Scheme which were cleared by the Cabinet itself though normally these are made by the concerned Department only.
Ajaz said that as per the Act it was left to the Government for framing rules and Revenue Department taking all precautionary measures framed the rules which included providing agriculture land free of cost. These rules were notified with prior approval of the cabinet as such no other approval was required. These rules were framed in such a manner which ultimately benefited 60 thousand rural families.
Ajaz said the observations of PAG were replied back well in time and all the details about various cabinet decisions, departmental files and the Assembly proceedings were provided to them vide No. Rev/NDK-J/NAZ-5, dated 12-09-2013 and No. Rev/Nazool/05/2013, dated 21-01-2013. He said the CAG report has been made on wrong presumptions and speculations. He said Roshni Act was the third revolutionary decision in the State after Land to Tiller Act of 1950s and Agrarian Reforms Act of 1970s.
The Minister said, however, in case there is any operational lacunae; the same would be investigated and action shall be taken accordingly.
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