THEDAILY

VOICE OF SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR, TUESDAY, 26 SHABAN 1433 AH ; 17 JULY 2012

Email:-editorvosgr@gmail.com         NEWS

Omar reaffirms commitment for transparent, accountable governance

Dr. Farooq offers 90% assistance from MNRE to J&K

             SRINAGAR, JULY 16 – Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance asking the administration to make e-tendering and e-procurement a rule in the functioning rather than exception.

            “You should follow e-tendering and e-procurement as a rule rather than exception”, he told the administration stressing on bringing all departments under this system. He also emphasized third party monitoring of projects in all the departments adding that besides physical and financial aspects, formulation of DPRs should also be brought under the purview of third party monitoring to check over-inflation.

            While giving directions for time bound service delivery and completion of works, the Chief Minister said that three more departments have been brought under Public Service Guarantee Act to expand its ambit and bring more services under the Act for time bound delivery.

            The Chief Minister approved Rs. 59.80 crores Annual Plan for Srinagar district for the year 2012-13 and gave nod to the allocations available at last year’s level under special area development programme at Srinagar District Development Board meeting he chaired here today.

            As a result of this decision, the overall availability of resources to Srinagar district for the development purposes will be maintained at the level of the last year.

            The Legislators and the Members of the District Development Board, Srinagar thanked the Chief Minister for maintaining last year’s resource availability to the district for the current fiscal for development programmes.

            The Chief Minister said that further additionality wherever required would be considered during the review of the plan expenditures in November-December this year.

             Omar Abdullah said that development of Srinagar and Jammu cities, for being the Capitals of the State, require focused attention for holistic development “Government is fully aware of this need and measures are afoot in this direction”, he said.

            The Chief Minister said that the recommendations of Finance Commission for enhancing Srinagar district plan size and the recommendations of Planning Board being constituted by the government will be factored in the formulation of comprehensive and up to the mark district development plan for Srinagar to address the development needs.

            Citing special areas of focus in the development process, Omar Abdullah said that establishment of community halls, land acquisition for projects, improvement to health institutions including G. B. Panth Hospital and setting up two new maternity hospitals, upgradation of general drainage system, Dal development, development of garbage dumping sites at Achen, widening of Panthchowk to decongest traffic, Reconstruction of Dastigeer Sahib (RA) Shrine, development of artisan clusters, construction of bridges, widening of roads, macadamization, improvement in water supply, street lighting and better delivery on public service are areas of special attention.

MHRD Team calls on Governor

 SRINAGAR, JULY 16 – Mr. N. K. Sinha, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, and Mr. Pradeep Koul, Senior Consultant, National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, called on Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan here today.

Mr. Sinha briefed the Governor about the various components of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology which is planned to be implemented by various Universities and other concerned educational institutions in the State. Under this Mission, the Kashmir University is developing the e-content for various graduate level courses and improving e-connectivity between the University and its affiliated colleges. The University has also taken up the matter for being provided with 1,000 Akash Tablets under this Mission. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is among the 9 institutions in the country which have been assigned the task of creating ERP Package for use of the institutions of higher learning all over the country under this programme.   

Pointing to the significant benefits which could flow from the efficient implementation of the various projects under this Mission, the Governor urged the MHRD experts to also focus on the actual utilization of the momentous opportunities which would be engendered by this Mission. He also suggested a Semester-wise review of the results achieved by the Universities and affiliated Colleges alongside a system of recognizing and rewarding the Teachers who take the lead and produce results.  

K. Skandan calls on Governor

        SRINAGAR, JULY 16 – Mr. K. Skandan, Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, called on Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan here today.

          During their meeting, Mr. Skandan briefed the Governor about various matters relating to internal security management, including the security arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra. Issues relating to certain development programmes were also discussed during the meeting.

PAC stresses early completion of STPs, utilization of funds judiciously

SRINAGAR, JULY 16: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Legislative Assembly on Monday stressed upon the officers of Housing and Urban Development department to speed up the pace of work on Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) and complete them in a time bound manner.

The Committee, which met under the Chairmanship of MLA Mr. Rafi Ahmad Mir discussed and reviewed the functioning of Housing and Urban Development department besides audit para’s.

Legislators, Mr. Vijay Bakaya, Mr. Bashir Ahmed Magray, Mr. Feroz Ahmed Khan, Mrs. Indu Pawar, Mr. Sukhnandan, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Mr. Vikar Rasool Wani, Mrs. Bimla Luthura and Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari attended the meeting and stressed upon the Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) to speed up the pace of all ongoing works executed by the authority for conservation of Dal Lake. The panel asked them to utilize the allotted funds in full and judiciously.

Discussing on various CAG’s audit paras, the Committee was not satisfied with the reply and decided that it will conduct on the spot in inspection shortly.

Threadbare discussion was held on Dal Lake Conservation Project, Programme Management, Sewerage Treatment works, intermediate pumping stations, sewer works, remodeling of drains etc.

It was informed in the meeting that Rs. 442 crore were sanctioned for conservation and Management of Dal Lake Project, out of which Rs. 308.43 crore were spent during 2005 to 2011.

It was also informed that sewerage treatment plants are designed for tackling impurities present in waste water in the form of floating material, suspended solids, bio-degraded organics and pathogens.

Among others, Director General Accounts and Treasuries Mr. Wali Mohammad Bhat, Vice Chairman, LAWDA Mr. Irfan Yasin, Representative from Accountant General’s Office, other officers from Housing and Urban Development and Assembly Secretariat attended the meeting.

Gurezi visits Gurez Constituency, announces Rs.10 lakh for SDH, Gurez

            SRINAGAR, JULY 16: Member Legislative Assembly, Gurez Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today visited various areas included Dawar and Tulail of Gurez Constituency and took stock of developmental works under execution in these areas.

            Interacting with the people, Mr. Gurezi said that the government is committed to provide basic amenities to the people of the State. He said that current government headed by Young and dynamic Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed for equitable development of all the three regions of the State.

            The people of the constituency posed various demands regarding providing basic essential services to them for which Mr. Gurezi assured that their genuine demands would be taken up with concerned quarters for their early redressal.

            He announced Rs.10 lakh out of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for Sub-District hospital, Gurez for purchase of auto analyzer, 30 numbers of beds and one ventilator.

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