Jammu, Mar 31: Throwing all the norms to winds, the authorities have ignored the bad pockets in JK and sanctioned Model villages in the already developed areas.
 The report presented by the Estimate Committee before the Legislative Assembly (LA) reveals most of the Model villages sanctioned under Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) in between 2004 to 2010 were sanctioned in the areas having about 80 to 90 percent road connectivity and also having the better healthcare and other facilities.
 “In comparison the most backward areas of erstwhile district Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Bandipora, Gurez and Ramnagar were neglected on this account despite the commitments made by the Finance Minister during his budget speech in 2009-10” the report states. 
 Pertinently, the Finance Minister during his budget speech in 2009-10 in LA had stated that the funds would definitely be allocated keeping in view the backwardness, poverty and remoteness of a particular area while sanctioning of Model villages.
 But contrary to the assurances of Finance Minister, the committee observed that the norms for sanctioning of Model villages were not followed by the state government.
 The report states that the Committee was informed that under PMRP Rs 142 Crore were received for raising such villages and almost “all the funds stands utilized till date and the PMRP stands closed now”.
 The Principal Secretary to Government Planning Department informed that out of the total allocation the state has been able to utilize 69 per cent of the funds under the programme.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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