A meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held here today under the Chairmanship of MLA, Mohammad Akbar Lone.The Committee examined the CAG’s Audit Papas pertaining to Estates and Hospitality & Protocol Departments regarding non-recovery of water usage charges, avoidable expenditure on engagement of a private Architect, working of Estates department etc.Legislators, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Abdul Rashid Dar, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ravinder Raina, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah and Ghulam Nabi Monga attended the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions to improve the functioning of the departments. The Committee directed the concerned authorities to frame the rules and clear policy to provide suitable and adequate accommodation to the legislators both Capital cities and it is prime duty of the department to provide same to them on priority.
The Committee appreciated the working of the departments and steps taken by the departments to develop the infrastructure of the department besides discussed the issues regarding the accommodation of employees and stressed upon the concerned department to provide accommodation to women employees as per their aspiration.Director, Estates Tasaduq Jeelani briefed the Committee about action taken on the observations of CAGs report besides what steps being taken by the department to provide suitable and adequate accommodation to the Legislators in Jammu and Srinagar.He assured the Committee about various steps being taken by the department to provide the accommodation to them and in this regard the department has creating new infrastructure at several places Jammu and Srinagar so that they can face any inconvenience during their visit at Srinagar and Jammu.
The Committee directed the Special Secretary, Residence Commissioner New Delhi, Nazim Khan to provide suitable accommodation and vehicle facilities to the Legislators during the visit at New Delhi.Special Secretary, Resident Commissioner New Delhi briefed the Committee about the facilities being provide the legislators and visitors of the state at JK House at New Delhi.It was decided in the meeting that the Committee will conduct a tour to JK House at New Delhi soon to enquire about the infrastructure and facilities to provide to the legislators available there. The Committee sought a detail written report on some audit paras and submit the same to the Committee in its next meeting so that the Committee would take necessary steps on the issues according.
After given satisfied reply by the concerned authorities of the departments, the Committee dropped some Audit paras.Accountant General, Audit, Sushil Thakur also pointed out the observations made by the CAGs in its audit report pertaining to the Estates and Hospitality and Protocal departments.Director General, (A&T), Altaf Hassan, Director, Hospitality and Protocol, Majid Drabu, Additional Secretary, CM Secretariat, Sushil Kumar besides, Special Secretary Legislative Assembly, R L Sharma, Additional Secretary, LA, Manzoor Ahmed Baba and senior officers of concerned department and Assembly Secretariat were also present in the meeting.