Jammu, Jan 11: Describing Pubic Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) one of the biggest initiatives of his government for public empowerment and good-governance, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said the government was considering creation of a separate department for implementation of the Act.
“We are examining two proposals of creating a separate department for implementation of PSGA under the overall control of the Chief Minister or a Commission like that of State Right to Information Commission to be headed by an independent authority to enforce the provisions of PSGA in the state,” Omar told a gathering of Sarpanchs and Panchs at Parade Ground here.
The function was organized by Rural Development Department.
“Anna Hazare sat on hunger strike for similar legislation”, Omar said highlighting the importance of this legislation in curbing corruption at lower levels and making service delivery time-bound.
The Chief Minister said the Panchayats would be integrated with the planning process at Halqa level during the next financial year adding that this mechanism could not be rolled out in the current financial year as the elections to these institutions were completed in mid year.
Indicating allowances for Sarpanchs and Panchs, the Chief Minister said that a proposal in this regard has been prepared by the Rural Development Department and is presently under examination in the Finance Department. “We intend to accommodate your demand in this regard to some extent”, he told the Sarpanchs and Panchs asking them to devote their full attention to work for public good.
Underlining the role of Panchayats in disseminating the provisions of Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), Omar said these basic democratic institutions will play key role in helping the people to get public service delivery in fixed time frame as envisaged in the Act.
Omar said the Act has turned the table so far as bribes are obtained by unscrupulous government employees for providing public services like issuance of building permission, driving licenses, state subject certificates, ration card, electric and water connections, etc to common people. “Now the Act has empowered the people to receive compensation from the erring officials for failing or showing any laxity or delay in providing these services within the specified time frame”, he said asking the people to utilize the provisions of this Act to their best use.
The Chief Minister said he has directed bringing some services of Home Department under the ambit of the Act which includes issuance of copy of FIR and character certificates. The issuance of MGNREGA card has also been asked to be made time bound under the PSGA.
Omar Abdullah lauded the efforts of PDD, R&B, PHE, CAPD, BEACON, National Power Grid Corporation and other agencies and individuals who worked tirelessly in the biting cold to restore the public services that were severely damaged by the recent heavy snowfall in the Valley and Jammu areas. “I was overseeing the operation and am showing my solidarity with them”, he said adding that they actually worked in most difficult conditions and restored the services.

‘PREVIOUS REGIME DELAYED POWER PROJECTS’
Without naming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Minister said that previous regime had failed to even generate 1 MW of power and in turn either delayed the construction of the power projects or closed down their construction work. “People wearing black goggles are accusing us of failure to use our power resources to meet our demands, but they during their rule put the Baglihar power project in cold storage and closed down the work on Sawlakote power project,” Omar said.
Chief Minister said that their only contribution in completion of power projects was completing the 1 MW power project at Pahalgam.
“Even the foundation stone for the project was laid by former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah”, he said.
Claiming that during past few years power situation has improved but still lot needs to be done to streamline the sector, Chief Minister said that efforts are being made to generate revenue and lower down the T&D losses which have reached an alarming proposition.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST