Jammu, March 11: Jammu and Kashmir Panther Party MLA, Harshdev Singh Friday demanded dissolution of upper house terming it a burden on state exchequer. He also termed the appointment of vice-chairpersons of various boards as ‘scandalous’.
  “Most of the states in the country have disbanded the upper house. I have no enmity with the members of upper house, but it is big burden on our exchequer”, he said adding     that assembly seats should be increased so that people can get more representation in the lower house.
 Terming the appointment of chairpersons of various boards as ‘scandalous’, Harsh said that government should explain the ‘backdoor appointments’ of the party workers and loyalists as VCs of different boards.
 Singh was speaking during the discussion and voting on demands for grants for Finance Department in Legislative Assembly.
 “Finance Minister Sahab you cry over the lack of funds, but at the same time these VCs enjoy the same facilities like Ministers enjoy with vehicles and security”, he said.
 He said, “You talk of austerity measures, as per the law state cannot have more than 12 cabinet ministers, but here there are many proxy ministers mostly the loyalists and workers of political establishment”.
 Panthers MLA said that government has itself admitted that nearly 2145 works in the Public Works Department (PWD) have been executed without tenders and nothing has been done to streamline the process. “You talk of fiscal discipline, this shows your discipline”.
 Singh alleged that maximum tax collection is being made from Jammu division but funds allocation is inadequate as compared to Valley. He suggested certain measures to save funds.
 Tarigami for details of funds distribution
 Pressing his cut motions on grants, MY Tarigami demanded that detailed report showing the status and funds distribution of the centrally sponsored schemes in the state should be submitted to the house. “Members should know where the funds are being utilized as many of the areas have been neglected in the development”, he added.
 Tarigami stressed on addressing the regional problems so that legislators could find time to have holistic view of concerns of the State  “The government should also stop the unproductive expenditure in different sectors, which include creation of unnecessary institutions”, he said.
 Zulfikar demands action over LHDC row
 Asking government to place before the house what action has been taken against the Ladakh Hill Development Council (LHDC), which has disbanded state emblem and had adopted new emblem along with the national flag, PDP leader Choudhary Zulfikar said, “Government should come up with a statement how the LHDC had taken the decision. This is against the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST