Following upon a meeting with Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Kuldeep Khoda again called on Governor N. N. Vohra to brief him about fate of the Commission’s recommendations sent to the various concerned State Government departments in the past three years.CVC informed the Governor that the State Government has initiated action in respect of certain recommendations which include: dispensing with the system of cheques and making payments by direct transfer to bank accounts of beneficiaries; using GPS to track movement of Kerosene Oil Tankers introduced in Jammu; issuance of single GPF account number to all subscribers irrespective of their postings; doing away with the system of payments through treasuries; following proper Tender System for works to be executed by all departments; using websites for publication of tender documents; adopting known procedure for fixing reserve price for disposal of surplus, obsolete and unserviceable items; issuing Gun Licenses on-line.
The Governor was further informed that various important recommendations on which action is yet to be taken include: (i) conducting open auction for sale of forest produce to prevent under-valuation by fixing reserve price prior to the auction. (ii) designating Superintending Engineers (instead of Executive Engineers) in all Engineering departments as the Departmental Vigilance Officers in every district; (iii) enacting a new J&K Police Act in the light of the directions passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court; (iv) identification of sensitive points for checking traffic on National Highways for and installation of CCTV cameras on such points as well as in Police Stations; (v) removal of encroachments from the Forest lands (only 1039 hectares retrieved out of 12,626 hectares encroached forest land); (vi) earmarking one Police Station each at Jammu and Srinagar for dealing with offences related to power thefts; (vii) online uploading of photographs/videography of all works executed with full details; (viii) digitization of all revenue records; (ix) linking of Ration Cards to Aadhar numbers of the consumers; (x) making available all public utility services online; and (xi) ensuring strict adherence to the Public Services Guarantee Act by the Revenue Department while attesting mutations, issuing PRCs/Category certificates/income certificates/property certificates/ Fard Intikhab/preparation of relief cases etc.Governor was concerned to learn about the long pendency and observed that he would early discuss with Chief Minister to see that the State Government takes time-bound action in regard to the SVC’s recommendations which are intended to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of the governmental system and thus improve the quality of public services being delivered to the common people.