Inter-Departmental synergy must: Dy CM

“Make Complaint Cells functional for hearing peoples’ grievances”

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand has called for synergy in the functioning of different departments while implementing the policies and programmes of the government so that benefits reach the people.

“Success of every government scheme and policy lies in the joint effort on part of different departments. If departments cannot function through consensus, it leads to unnecessary delays and the benefits of the schemes get diluted before reaching the masses,” he said.

This was stated by the Deputy Chief Minister while reviewing the availability of drinking water, electricity, food grains and other essential utility services to the people of Jammu Division at a high-level meeting at Civil Secretariat today.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal and senior officers of different departments of Jammu region were present in the meeting.

The Deputy Chief Minister impressed upon all the regional heads of different departments to put optimum and coordinated efforts to ensure that the schemes are implemented on the ground. He said that from the very onset of summers in Jammu, the government is monitoring the situation of essential supplies as well as basic utilities like drinking water and electricity so that people of the region do not face any problem.

Stressing on augmentation of power and water supply in rural as well as far-flung areas of the region, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the Divisional Commissioner to maintain a close liaison with PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Power, CA&PD and Agriculture Departments so that the people do not face any inconvenience due to delay of monsoon or scanty rainfall. He asked these departments to prepare a contingency plan to meet any eventuality.

Mr. Tara Chand took stock of the arrangements for timely supply of seeds, chemical fertilizers and other agricultural inputs besides, ensuring irrigation facilities to the farmers across the Jammu Division for the current Kharief season. “At a time when scorching heat spell in the region have already put heavy pressure on the farmers, the government is doing utmost to provide them with all facilities so that the kharief sowing season is not washed off,” he said.

Mr. Tara Chand asked the officers to stick to deadlines set for completion of the ongoing projects in Jammu region. “I want the executing agencies to factor in all possibilities of unforeseen situations while fixing deadlines.” He said and added that delays lend a bad name to functioning of the government, which shall not be tolerated at any cost.

The Deputy Chief Minister asked the department heads to develop a close rapport with people by coming out of the confines of their offices and reaching out to the people as much as possible. He asked the Divisional Commissioner to regularly monitor the progress of the different departments.

Directing the Divisional Commissioner to make a Complaint Cell operational in Jammu for lodging the day-to-day problems of the people, Mr. Tara Chand said that the complaints lodged in the Cell should be forwarded to the concerned departments for further necessary action, adding that the mechanism will also keep a check on the performance of different utility departments.

To deal with water scarcity in Kandi areas of Rajouri, Kathua and Samba districts, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the Chief Engineer PHE to find suitable ways for ensuring that the supply of drinking as well as irrigation water is not affected. He asked him to arrange water tanker services for those areas that are facing difficulties due to shortage of water during summer months. He also directed the CA&PD officers to plug pilferage of essential supplies and keep a close vigil on the APL and BPL ration supply in the erstwhile Doda district and border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

Regarding construction of parking lots in Jammu city, Mr. Tara Chand asked Jammu Development Authority to identify land for the purpose. He directed the NBCC and ERA authorities to work in coordination and complete the ongoing projects within stipulated time frame. He asked them to display the details of work allotted, executing agency and the completion date on all the construction sites for the knowledge of people. He asked the officers to use government funds judiciously and create durable assets.