The Committee on Estimates of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly which met here today under the Chairmanship of MLA, Mohammad Ashraf Mir to review the functioning of Rural Development Department (RDD) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) directed the higher authorities of the Department to clear all pending liabilities under MGNREGA and other schemes of the department.The other Members of the Committee including Vikar Rasool Wani, Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar, Shakti Raj Parihar, Ch. Qamar Hussain and Abdul Majid Padder attended the meeting.Highlighting various issues of the department, the Committee also suggested measures to make the department more vibrant and result oriented.The Committee directed the higher authorities to involve local representatives in development activities of their respective constituencies as they know more about the developmental needs of the people.The Committee asked the concerned for accelerating the pace of work on all ongoing projects so that they could be completed before the snowfall. It was also directed to higher authorities to immediate release of cement in Ramban district so that ongoing works could also be completed before winter season.
The Committee constituted two Sub-Committees headed by MLA, Abdul Majid Padder and MLA, Vikar Rasool Wani for Kashmir and Jammu Divisions respectively to look into the works being executed by Power Development, PHE, I&FC and Rural Development Department. The Committee also directed the concerned authorities to take up the matter with concerned that the GST should be part of estimates.Meanwhile, Commissioner Secretary, RDD, Nirmal Sharma and CEO, IWMP, Farooq Ahmed briefed the Committee about the overall functioning of the department besides the implementation of different schemes including IWMP in the state.The Committee was informed about workout plan of IWMP stating that out of 5888 micro watersheds, 998 micro watersheds are to be treated, which would involve an area of 1533729 Ha. As per the state perspective and strategic plan these micro watersheds will be treated in a phased manner covering all districts of the state up to the end of 14th five year plan.Among others, Director RDD, Jammu R K Bhat, Director RS, J&K M N Sheikh, Director Finance, S C Pandita, ACDs, DPOs, besides Special Secretary, Legislative Assembly, R L Sharma, Deputy Secretary LA, Mohammad Amin Shah and other senior officers of concerned department and Assembly Secretariat were attended the meeting.