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| People have sigh of relief as Babus stay on toes | | Governor's rule, a blessing in disguise! | |
Hyder Ali
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 3: Even as the state eagerly looks ahead for the formation of democratically elected government, the Governor rule seems to have come as a blessing in disguise for the people of trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir, where the official machinery has been on toes, and people feel "a sigh of relief" from the government offices to main roads, to river Jhelum, which left Kashmir devastated in September 2014, the change is visible, almost everywhere, since January 9 when Governor NN Vohra took to the reigns of the state, two days after the demise of the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. In the absence of "political pressures", the administration seems to be running on a "smooth and people-friendly" track.
Today alone, the State Administrative Council led by Vohra took as many as eight major decisions in day and the same would otherwise take "months if not years."
On March 3, the SAC which met in Jammu, approved promotions in Police and Forest departments, gave nod to advertisement policy for 2016 and created two dedicated project wings in Power Development Department apart from constituting a high level committee to look into regularization of the casual laborers. The SAC also gave nod to 'J&K State Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation & Multiple Disabilities Act, 2016,' while confirmation of appointment of the Advocate General was also made.
Within a day, the Governor also reviewed the progress on the much awaited dredging in Jhelum. Just yesterday, on March 2, Vohra had written to the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and sought urgent release of funds for dredging of river Jhelum and its outflow channels.
An official spokesman said the Governor has elicited the Minister's "personal interest in this matter so that this time-bound project can be completed before the coming monsoon season."
The officials, who would otherwise spend the day "chitchatting" in their cozy chambers, now spend most of the time solving public issues or making on-the-spot inspections.
In the past less than a month, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon and the District Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Lone visited the city center of Lal Chowk atleast twice to look into the public grievances, particularly those of the business community.
Recently, the commuters, who are often taken for a ride by the public transporters, couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner getting into a minibus bus to see for themselves, how buses operate in the summer capital.
Officials said it is for the first time in the past 25 odd years of armed insurgency in Kashmir that the government top brass bothered to have firsthand experience of the bus travel.
The scene next to driver's seat was equally eye-grabbing. Not any routine passenger, but the Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Maqsood Uz Zaman was himself sitting on the front seat, meticulously monitoring skills of the driver. The team of top officials, who had boarded the passenger bus at Batmaloo alighted at Jehangir Chowk after taking public feedback while Zaman noted down everything on a notepad.
On the other hand, SSP Traffic Srinagar is seen spending most part of his day on the main roads, personally regulating vehicular movement. Official sources said Zaman spends around 12 to 14 hours on the main roads. "I saw him standing on the highway at 7:00 AM when in left for Tral. On my return home, I again saw him regulating traffic near Dalgate and both the times he checked if I was wearing the seat belt," said a Sameer Azad, a prominent businessman while hailing the role of Traffic police as being "exceptional this time."
An employee with the Industries Department whose wife has been suffering from a terminal ailment had requested the authorities to transfer him to Srinagar on humanitarian grounds so that he could look after his spouse. Sources said Commissioner Secretary Industries Shailendra Kumar got his transfer done in no time while the department employees hailed the endeavor.
In south Kashmir's Shopian, the locals have been holding rallies in appreciation for DC GM Dar and ADC Reyaz Ahmed Beg. "It's for the first time in the last over two decades that doctors have been made accountable by the administration otherwise they were rarely seen working," said Javiada Begum, a woman.
Work on a bridge in north Kashmir's Baramulla area that had been left halfway over a decade ago, as per the Beacon, would be resumed in the coming months. Officials said the Governor has asked the concerned agencies to complete works without any delay.
There's some sigh of relief for the flood-hit people as well. Vohra has got the process of release of relief amount accelerated.
Following the approval of the State Administrative Council led by Governor, the Revenue Department has issued orders to the payment of financial assistance, under Prime Minister's Development Plan 2015, to the owners of houses damaged due to floods of September 2014.
The Governor who is personally monitoring this all has directed completion of disbursement of additional financial assistance to the flood affected households in a time-bound manner.
Governor has also pulled up the authorities over illegal constructions. Though SMC and SDA continue to show "minimal performance", LAWDA has improved.
Some time back, the Governor also released all the pending Constituency Development Funds (CDFs) of all the legislators in one sitting so lest the fund lapse.
Leave apart common people, even the elected representatives have started to appreciate the Governor's rule. In his recent speech, former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Working President, Omar Abdullah, who is also MLA Beerwah said "people were happy with the Governor's rule due to the bad governance during 10-months of the PDP-led government."
The Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairman Muhammad Yasin Khan endorsed the good work being executed by Vohra. "One thing is very clear that the administration is exceptionally active and responsive… He (Vohra) was himself very responsive and showed keen interest towards the issues of business community during his recent interaction with us," Khan told Early Times adding "some recent transfers, however, need reconsideration."
Former KCCI President and social activist Sheikh Ashiq said, "I am thankful to him that my concern on rights abuse, which I picked up with him during a recent interaction, was taken up seriously and he delivered his word of brining in maximum restraint into forces."
The Governor also asked the officials to exhibit austerity. He asked the government departments to ban holding meetings and conferences at private hotels and told them to instead utilize government buildings for the purpose.
The government has also asked departments to discourage procurement of new vehicles to meet the operational requirement until that was done against as a replacement against condemned vehicles.
Vohra also directed the concerned to travel only by "economy class regardless of their entitlements and avoid travel wherever holding video conferences was possible instead of attending meetings."
This all has happened in less than two months. Governor and his core team including Chief Secretary BR Sharma, and Advisors Khusrhid Ganie and Parvez Deewan who were appointed just a month ago manage this all.
There's equally a warning for the corrupt officials. The Raj Bhawan has started working on list of tainted officials including the deadwood and action against them is expected. |
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