Govt committed to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions for strengthening democratic set up at grass-root level: Lt Gov

Internet services will be restored in phases once situation turns ‘more normal’ in Kashmir

05/12/2019

BARAMULLA, Dec 4: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today reiterated the Government's commitment for effectively implementing 73rd and 74th Amendments for empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) that will further strengthen the democratic set up at the grass-root level. He said that PRIs shall be devolved with sufficient financial resources besides terming such institutions vital for meeting the public expectations at the grass root level.
The Lt. Governor made these remarks during a Public Outreach Camp chaired by him in the frontier village of Salamabad , Uri in Baramulla district.
While terming the public participation necessary for achieving the goals of development, the Lt. Governor said that government is committed to ensure the equitable development of all the regions of J&K. Various initiatives are afoot to develop the border and remote areas, he added.
The Lt. Governor said that special efforts shall be taken to augment the power generation capacity so that gap between the demand and supply is bridged. He further added that J&K is endowed with huge potential of power generation besides observing that every Government office/building shall be equipped with solar power harnessing techniques. He also said that under Jal Jeevan Mission launched by Government of India, piped drinking water shall be provided to every household. He further added that basic infrastructure in health institutions shall be developed for enhancing the quality of health and medicare systems.
While terming effective public grievance redressel mechanism vital for an effective and welfare administration, the Lt. Governor said that a drop box shall be installed in every Panchayat Halqa so that public issues and grievances are projected properly. He also assured that sufficient number of bunkers shall be constructed in affected areas so that loss of precious lives is averted during cross border shelling. On the occasion, as many as 10 delegations of Uri and its adjoining areas apprised the Lt. Governor about various issues and demands during which they sought his personal intervention for their timely disposal.
Delegations of Uri Town and Block Uri demanded development and upgradation of basic infrastructure of the town and highlighted several issues pertaining to the overall development of Uri area. A delegation of Bijama, Lachipora, Bagna Noorkha and Salamabad demanded construction of Mini hydro Project on Nallah Bijama, upgradation of mobile connectivity in Bijama, upgradation of receiving station at Noorkha, macadamization of link roads etc.
Another delegation of Block Parenpeelian demanded ST status for Paharis, construction of safety bunkers, issuance of Golden Cards under Ayushman Bharat Scheme and speedy completion of developmental projects in the area.
A delegation of PRIs demanded more devolution of powers for strengthening panchayats and release of pending payments under MGNREGA. Delegations from Shia Community, Gujjar and Bakerwal Community also put forth their issues during the programme.
Meanwhile, the Lt. Governor gave a patient hearing to them all and assured that all the genuine issues shall be examined and resolved in a time bound manner.
Earlier, the Lt. Governor kick-started a plantation drive by planting a Deodar plant in NHPC premises. He further inspected various stalls installed by several departments displaying their schemes, products and machinery for the overall benefit of the people. He also distributed sports equipments, free books, uniforms and other valuable items of great significance among some identified beneficiaries.
District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo presented a brief profile of Uri sub-division and said that the recently culminated B2V2 programme received overwhelming response from the area. He also informed that about 1400 developmental works were identified during B2V1 out of which about 403 works have been taken up and are in different stages of execution.
Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, heads of various departments, senior officers from Civil and Police Administration were present on the occasion.
Internet services would be restored in Kashmir in phases once the situation turns "more normal", Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) G C Murmu said on Wednesday.
However, he gave no timeline for restoration of internet services, which were snapped across all platforms in the Kashmir valley on the intervening night of August 4 and August 5. The Centre announced abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5.
"We are reviewing it (internet ban) and as it (situation) becomes more normal, we will do it (restore) phase-wise. We have already discussed it with our administration and we are taking it up," Murmu told reporters on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of police recruits at the Police Training Centre, Sheeri in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The LG described the situation in the valley post abrogation of Article 370 as "very good".
"I think the situation is very good, it has improved very well. The police have been doing a yeoman's service and there is a high level of coordination among all the forces here. People's participation is very good, they are coming out and are interested in development," he said.
Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu has issued direction to provide 'roof top solar systems' to all government buildings in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory as part of energy efficiency measures, a government spokesperson said. The directions were given by Murmu during the first meeting of Administrative Council on Tuesday in which the power scenario across the union territory was reviewed, the official spokesperson said
Power Development Department Commissioner-Secretary Hirdesh Kumar made a detailed presentation highlighting the power scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, including the status of restoration of power supply post snowfall on November 6 and 7 in Kashmir region.
Murmu directed to conduct audit of all 220 KV and 132 KV transmission line towers and take corrective measures before the start of the next winter season to prevent damage to power structure, he said.
The Administrative Council was apprised that after commissioning of 220 KV Zainakote-Aulesteng line, which is expected by the end of February 2020, an additional 320 MVA capacity will be added to the system which will bring much needed relief in Kashmir region and bring down power curtailment.
The Council was also apprised that the Power Development Department has fixed target of achieving 100 per cent metering by installing prepaid and smart meters by March 2021. Following snowfall, the power supply in the entire Kashmir region was severely affected, especially in districts of Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara and Shopian, the Council was informed.
The districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Budgam were also badly affected. The entire load in the Kashmir region on the evening of November 7 plummeted to 30 MW, he said.
Restoration works were initiated on a war footing and power supply was fully restored in districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam by November 10, the spokesman said.
However, due to the collapse of transmission line towers of the lines feeding Nihalpul, Amargarh and Magam grids, the power supply to districts of Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora was restored by erecting Emergency Restoration Structures (ERS), he added.

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