While starting the debate on the revenue department from the Congress Party Nawang Rigzin Jora called revenue department the face of the government. Jora pointed out that the responsiveness and accountability and transparency of this department will reflect on the responsiveness and transparency of the entire government. The government must expedite the digitizations of land record for which the UPA government had sanctioned around Rs 350 crores. Just changing the name scheme will not do as the BJP government has done of this scheme. It must be fast tracked so that the objective of making land record accessible to the public online which is the objective of the scheme. Jora also urged that settlement operation be carried out on time. The department is also the nodal agency for land acquisition for government projects. In this regard a large number of people whose land has been acquired by the border roads for widening of Leh Srinagar road haven't got their compensation although the land stands acquired and the road stands widened.
Jora said that the Revenue department is entrusted with the responsibility of servicing the Public Service Guarantee Act which was enacted by the previous NC - Congress coalition government with the objective of ensuring responsiveness and accountability whether it is about timely issuance of PRC, ST certificate. Jora urged that all newly created Sub Divisions, Tehsil, Naib Tehsil, Niabat, Girdawar and Patwar Jalsa be made functional.Jora highlighted the importance of the department for Relief and Rehabilitation. In this regard Jora recalled the devastation caused by the flood of 2o14 in the State and the flash flood of 2010. He warned that department must be ready for any eventuality. Jora pointed out that upper catchment areas of all the tributaries of Jhelum, Chenab, Indus and Ravi River are vulnerable for flash flood. Jora also pointed out that entire Kashmir valley and Chenab valley falls under seismic zone V and whole of Ladakh and major part of Jammu fall within seismic zone iv - more so in the light of the recent observation by scientist from an American University. Jora also pointed out that the Revenue Department is also mandated with keeping the record of births and deaths and questioned whether this is being done. (KNS)