Jammu, Feb 8: The State Cabinet Wednesday discussed the election plan for Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Committees with the coalition partners arriving at a consensus to complete the process by April end – well before the onset of tourism season which starts from May onwards.
Sources said while the Cabinet approved to hold the elections soon after the completion of the Assembly session, ending on March 31, the formal notification for the poll schedule would be issued by State Election Department later.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat at 4 pm.
It is pertinent to mention here that the five year term of the urban bodies, including that of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), ended in March 2010 and since then elections have been delayed.
Last municipal elections were held during the tenure of former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s PDP-Congress alliance government in 2004. Meanwhile, Cabinet also approved enhancement  of pay scales of Principal Government Medical College Srinagar and Principal Government Medical college Jammu from the existing PB-4 (37400-67000+ G.P Rs. 10,000) to PB-4(37400-67000+G.P Rs. 12,000) from 01-07-2009.
It also approved enhancement of Salary of Councilors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh-Kargil from Rs. 10,000 to 30,000 per month.
Since past two years, Jammu city and Srinagar are without a Mayor and most of the developmental works have been hampered, as funds remained blocked. On the other hand a total of 4128 Sarpanchs and over 33,500 Panchs would participate in the elections to elect Chairmen of the Block Development Councils.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST