Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21:
Accusing the BJP regime of divesting the rural and far-flung areas of their due share of developmental grants, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and Former Minister expressed grave concern over the pathetic developmental scenario in the such areas. He was addressing several public meetings during his tour of villages Majua, Rassain and Jandror of Ramnagar constituency today.
Charging the govt and the BJP leadership for gross neglect of remote areas, he lamented that various flagship schemes launched in the past for development and upliftment of the rural poor had totally collapsed with people fast losing confidence in the present dispensation. He regretted that not only had the newly announced schemes failed to take off but the already existing schemes had also become defunct with the govt and its functionaries totally unaware of the rural woes. He said that rural areas which had over whelmingly voted BJP to power under the belief of ‘Achhe Din’ were feeling utterly betrayed and cheated and were repenting their decision.
Making a particular mention of Ramnagar constituency, Mr. Singh said that not only was the condition of roads deplorable, but the people were facing the worst nightmares due to chaotic power supply, ration shortage and drinking water crises in the constituency.
He expressed his dismay over the complaints of several villages who named certain officers refusing to restore their water and power connections despite repeated requests and reminders.
Lambasting such reckless officers of PHE, RDD and Revenue in particular, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that such a callous and insensitive approach of the authorities concerned had not only resulted in compounding the woes and miseries of common man but had also deprived several villages of basic needs of drinking water and power besides increased corruption in the constituency. Cautioning the said officers to fulfill their obligations and to desist from politicking in violation of Employees conduct rules and Civil Services Regulations, he called upon Departmental vigilance officers to take due cognizance of the conduct of such officials.
Asserting that not only were the rural areas suffering due to mal-governance and bureaucratic red-tape, but the urban areas were also seething with rage due to certain unwholesome decisions of the present regime. The announcement of imposing property tax had come as a rude shocker for the people at the present Juncture when the common man was faced with worst economic distress. With business facing show down and unemployment on the rise, the people were finding it difficult to make both ends meet. Coupled with the recession in trade was the huge increase in taxes and duties on fuel and other essential items which had largely disturbed the budget of common man. Under the prevailing circumstances, the common man in both the rural and urban areas was fast losing faith in the present dispensation.
Drawing the attention of concerned authorities towards the peculiar problems of the area, Mr. Singh called for immediate release of pending wages and other dues of work force under MGNREGA. He called for clearance of liabilities of mates and contractors of RDD, R&B and PHE Deptt at the earliest. He sought time bound completion of enquiry into the complaints of frauds in execution of works under Panchayat funds in Ghordi Block in particular where the villages leveled allegations of large scale bunglings and siphoning of rural grants.
