Settlement operations completed in 1739 villages

Out of 7054 villages of 82 tehsils, Settlement Operation in 896 villages in Kashmir and 843 villages in Jammu has been completed and the record deposited with the concerned Revenue authorities while at least 4000 employees including 2000 Patwaris and 400 Tehsildars/ Naib Tehsildars are required to complete the task within ten years.

Replying to a discussion on starred question of Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Settlement of Revenue records in the Upper House today, Minister of State for Revenue, Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani said that Out of 7054 villages of 82 tehsils, in the State, at present, the Settlement operations are going on in 4519 villages of 39 tehsils. He disclosed that the measurement work in respect of 2287 villages in Jammu division has been completed out of which record of rights of 1739 villages (896 in Kashmir and 843 in Jammu division) has been completed in nearly 30 years and deposited in the record rooms concerned.

Although there is no intentional delay, there are many other factors responsible for slow pace of settlement work such as shortage of sufficient manpower / machinery, non-availability of dedicated manpower, engagement of existing Settlement staff in multifarious activities, sub division and fragmentation of land holdings, lack of financial resources required for the Settlement operations, non-cooperation on the part of land owners, he added.

Mr Wani disclosed that it requires two years on an average to complete the Settlement work in a particular village, provided a Patwari is assigned this job exclusively with no other activity like preparation of relief cases, preparation of land acquisition cases, electoral rolls for various types of elections, reporting for various types of certificates, attending and order and other miscellaneous duties. During last Settlement, the average time frame for the completion of a village was about five years notwithstanding the fact that Patwaris and other field staff were dedicated for the purpose and there was hardly any multifarious duties to perform by the Settlement staff.

Referring to the time frame, Mr Wani said department was not in position to give definite time frame under the circumstances mentioned. For this purpose the organization is required to be equipped with men and machinery and other infrastructural facilities, Although no specific time frame can be given it is lengthy process involving 21 steps including preliminary verification, preparation of papers before measurement, preparing rough map, field measurement by means of ETS, writing field book/ Khasra Paimaish, generation of record rights and then computerization.

He further claimed that nearly 4000 dedicated employees including 2000 Patwaris, 400 GQs, 400 ETS machines, 400 surveyors, 400 computers and 40 GPS are required to complete the task within ten years.

Earlier, Mr Sadhotra expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work and apprehended that work is going on for the last 30 years and in next 50 years, the job can not be completed. He said this settlement has become a big joke with the people of J&K. Huge funds have been spent but output is very poor. He also demanded inquiry into the Rs 170 crore funds spent on the settlement so far. Naresh Gupta, Jugal Kishore, Murtaza Khan, Sheikh Gulam Rasool and Jahangir Mir also participated in discussion.

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Model village without basic amenities

Despite having been declared as model village about five years back, Pachound village in Dudu Basantgarh (Udhampur district) is still without basic amenities.

According to Naib Sarpanch Karnail Singh and Panch Subash Chander, have alleged that Government claims to provide basic facilities at the door step have remained on papers only, as there was no road connectivity and the villagers are compelled to cover a distance of about 25 km on foot and horse is still the major mode of transport.

Both said what to talk of electricity supply the people use the primitive method of Mashaal and candles for lighting. The people go to other ward for getting charged their mobile phones, while the people have been struggling for over a decade even for ration and they have to travel to another village to collect daily routine goods.

They added that there was no banking facility in this model village and there is also no healthcare facility and people have to travel to Kirkiri ward which is 5 km from Allopathic Dispensary on foot. At Government High School Pachound there are only six teachers including headmaster against 220 students. They said a TV set was provided to school in the year 2009, but till date there is no electricity provided yet. They added that Computer Lab was constructed by Rural Development Department but without computer and the electricity.

Both stated that the post of Headmaster, Middle School Kirkiri is lying vacant since long, both maintained adding that authorities have been approached many times but without any tangible results. The residents of the area have appealed the Chief Minister to look into the matter and redress the genuine grievances.

Embezzlement in NREGA projects

Falsifying the much hyped claims of the government that Centrally sponsored schemes are properly implemented there has been reports of huge embezzlement in projects undertaken by National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Total Sanitary Campaign (TSC) in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.

The embezzlement came to the fore after Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora ordered an inquiry. The inquiry was ordered by DC after he received bulk of complaints from the residents of the district. The inquiry was ordered vide order number  ADF/Bpr/11/E-R/835 Dated 25-11-2011 by DC Bandipora and the inquiry has been completed.

The inquiry report reveals violation of norms in utilisation of schemes. The funds meant for rural development to handle the NREGA operations in various Panchayat blocks of Bandipora including Mantrgam, Pazalpora, Kralpora and Chandaji have been withdrawn in lakhs without proper work done by the concerned officers. Even the funds, the reports adds, meant for paying dues to NERGA labourers have not been paid despite passage of several months.

The inquiry report has brought Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Village Level Workers (VLW) of these blocks under the scanner for violating the norms. The inquiry team was headed by assistant director fisheries. After completing the inquiry, he submitted the report to DC.

The report mentions that most of the works executed under such schemes during the year 2010-2011 are only in papers while the funds have been withdrawn from the government exchequer. It reveals that there is embezzlement worth lakhs in 11 works in Kralpora, Chandaji, Chek, Pazzalpora, Mantrigam, Sheikhpora and Brarpora under NREGA scheme.

Report further reveals that the construction of Khol (Nallah)  with footpath and retaining wall from house of Ahad Mir to Chek Kralpora is only on papers while an amount of Rs 6 lakhs have been withdrawn after shown expended.

Same is the case with the construction of road with retaining wall from Ismail Najar towards Pazalpora Kralpora, an amount of 1.90 lakhs has been withdrawn. Further the construction of link road from Wahab Malik towards Aziz Sheikh at the cost of Rs 2 lakhs  has shown no progress after being taken over by NERGA. Report mentions that about 11 construction works are only limited to papers while the funds have been withdrawn against the construction.

In four villages of district Kralpora,Pazalpora,Mantrigam and Shiekhpora, the report reveals hundreds of villagers have been shown as labourers while the names on muster sheets are different. Even  the payment has been made to the labourers who have not received a penny besides working in the executed works.

Report further reveals that the hundreds of labourers have not been provided the job cards while most of the labourers engaged for the execution of developmental works have not been paid.

The information reveals that 98 percent of laborers worked for the Chandaji road construction has not been enlisted in muster rolls instead others have been enlisted who have not worked under the programme. Even persons close to officials from other areas have been shown as laboures, flouting the standing rule of NERGA that labourers are to be engaged within five kilometers radius.

The report further reveals that the Rs 4.56 lakh has been embezzled among expended 6 lakhs, it says that only 1.43 lakhs have been entered in the muster sheets among the 6.00 lakhs shown as expended.

The report also revealed that there is huge misappropriation of funds while implementing the TSC scheme in Mantrigam and Kralpora villages, it says that the in gross violation of rules several members of a single family have been benefited instead of benefiting one member from a single family.

Interestingly, a female Panch Mugli Begum has managed to get three latrines one for herself, One for her husband Muhammad Maqool and one for her daughter Shahnaza Bano, figuring respectively at serial number 97,224 and 228.

Similarly Kralpora village head Ghulam Mahi-ud-Din Tantray has managed to get three latrines, one  for himself, one for his wife Rafiqa and one for his son Ashiq Hussain, figuring at serial number 132,173 and 249.

Confirming that he has ordered an inquiry and received the inquiry report  deputy commissioner (DC) Bandipora Manzoor Ahmad Lone said some employees have been charge sheeted after the inquiry report was submitted. “Let the employees reply. We will act further against them people after we examine their replies,”   DC said.

Veeri takes stock of peoples problems in Anantnag

 Member Legislative Council (MLC) Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) today conducted extensive tour to various villages of Anantnag district and took stock of ongoing developmental projects being executed for facilitating people of the district at earliest. The legislator impressed upon concerned executing agencies to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects with use of quality material so that a concrete infrastructure would be created once for all in the area.

During his tour the legislator met several deputations and assured them that all their genuine developmental needs would be mitigated on priority.

Interacting with the people at different places, Dr. Bashir asserted that all round development of Anantnag district like other districts is prime duty of government. He said the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is paying focussed attention for all round development of rurali ties, adding that crores of rupees are being expended on upgradation of basic infrastructure facilities in the district.

Referring to the developmental scenario of Bijbehera Constituency, Dr. Veeri said that government has already released a huge funds for carrying out developmental projects including upgradation of road connectivity, water and power supply besides thrust is also being given to improve health care and educational infrastructure in the constituency. Dr. Veeri said that an amount of Rs. 79.82 lakh have been released under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for improving basic amenities in the villages of Bijbehara constituency. Giving details of the allocation of funds, the legislator said that Rs. 4 lakh each released for villages Khiram Parray Mohalla, Thokarpra Kanalwon, Hatigam, Darigund, Khushrowkalan, Joibal Veeri, Hanjipora Sattar and Ratherpora Panjpora, Rs. 4.5 lakh each for village Dangar Sirhama, Hajipora Veeri, Bijbehara, Rs. 4.75 lakh for Check Panjpora, Rs. 3.5 lakh each for Sofi Mohalla Kanlwon, and Nowbugh.

He said Rs. 2 lakh have also been released for village of Danjipora Sirhama, Rs. 4.25 lakh for caravan Industrial Estate Bijbehara, Rs.3.47 lakh for Jaffarpora Marhama, Rs. 3.73 lakh for Lonepora Marhama ,Rs. 2.65 lakh for Thokerpora Veeri, Rs 3.47 lakh for Ganaie Mohalla Beerwa and Rs 3. Lakh for Kud Angan Marhama for improvement of basic amenities.

Earlier, the Legislator visited the residence of Peer Bilal of Darbagh Harwan for consoling the death of his father Peer Mohammad Yasin Shah Sahib who passed away couple of days before.Dr. Veeri said that the Late Peer Yasin was a spiritual, religious scholar and was inheriting all moral values. He said the contribution made by the late saint for the welfare of the society would be remembered for ever

Chief Ministers Constituency Without Water Supply

Residents of many villages of chief minister Omar Abdullah’s Ganderbal constituency are up in arms against the government as despite years of wait, these villages are still without the proper drinking water supply. Though the pipelines and other necessary infrastructure has already been accomplished, but the taps continue to remain thirsty in the absence of the water supply. In Safapora of Tehsil Lar, Pahlipora, Sheikh Mohalla, Wani Mohalla, Chan Mohalla, Naid Mohalla, Choh, Danger Mohalla and many other adjoining villages have been waiting for the past many years now to see the water supply in their villages and mohallas. “There is no water available for us in this age of science and technology”, lamented Manzoor Ahmad, a contractual

lecturer.“Though the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department had already laid the pipelines in these villages to ensure the water supply to these villages, but till now, no any concrete  measure has been undertaken by the concerned district authorities to let the villagers avail the drinking water facility”, he further said.“Our taps are thirsty for water, not to talk of us”, Shabu, another local told News Agency.

Pertinently, in the abovementioned villages, the PHE authorities, only a couple of years back has started to lay down another pipeline to ensure the drinking water facility to the villages, but this laying down of the pipeline is going at the snail’s pace bringing lot of irritation on the faces of thousands of villagers.Furthermore, a filtration plant coming up from the last two years near Government Higher Secondary Educational Institute is still incomplete following the work that is going at snail’s pace. “If the work on the plant is speeded up and is made functional, we would have a breather”, said Mohammad Yousuf of Wani Mohalla.Not only in Safapora, there are many villages in Kangan Tehsil as well without the drinking water supply. Gonchi Mohalla, Checki Akhal and other adjoining villages have the same story to tell as that of the Safapora villages: “Pipelines laid, but no water available”.

Though a tanker deployed by the PHE authorities provides the drinking water supply to these villages, but the dilapidated condition of the approaching road to Gonchi Mohalla and Checki Akhal has been putting a great brake on the tanker to move to these villages. “In winters (as it has already marked its presence), we are the worst-hit sufferers as the tanker couldn’t enter our villages”, said Mohammad Ashraf, a local of Akhal. The villagers of both Safapora have made umpteen numbers of visits to all the concerned officials from Executive Engineer PHE Ganderbal to Superintending Engineer to the office of Chief Minister, but till now, the villagers continue to remain thirsty for water. “We appeal Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look into the matter so that our problem is mitigated”, the  villagers said.When contacted, Niyaz Ahmad Laway, Executive Engineer PHE Ganderbal admitted before Kashmir Times that there are the problems of non-availability of drinking water in Safapora and Kangan villages.