MUDDASIR ALI
Srinagar, Jan 29: The latest ‘disturbing’ revelation about “blatant blockade and diversion” of funds by the Housing and Urban Development Department meant from Kashmir valley, is snowballing into a major political controversy with Valley-based civic bodies organizing demonstrations here Monday to protest the “brazen discrimination” in fund allocation.
 Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and various civil society groups in the Valley have also expressed serious concern over the “blockade” of funds by the H&UDD and are demanding a white paper on allocation and utilization of funds in the Department during the past three years.
 Pertinently, the employees of the civic bodies, who have also joined the bandwagon to protest discrimination in allocation of funds, also decry shortage of manpower at higher levels and non-implementation of recommendations regarding reorganization of local bodies in Kashmir.
 On January 24 Greater Kashmir had reported that more than Rs 15 crore released to the state government by the Centre for solid waste management for seven towns of Kashmir are lying unspent for the past two years due to virtual blockade of the utilization by the H&UDD headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.
 In comparison to almost nil utilization in Kashmir valley, surprisingly, the expenditure for five towns of Jammu region is between 90 to 95 percent. According to sources in H&UDD, the funds meant for Kashmir valley are being incessantly kept blocked by the administrative department.
 Sources, said the Joint Director Planning in H&UDD who works as a nodal officer in the department for allocation and release of funds was transferred recently after serving in the department for almost three years. “However, he was retained in the department on the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister,” sources said adding that Vice-Chairman Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) had recently confronted the said officer accusing him of keeping the utilization certificates submitted by LAWDA pending resulting in delayed release of funds.   
 “We have asked the employees of all the 46 municipal corporations in Kashmir to assemble here tomorrow. We will be protesting against the discrimination meted with the Kashmir on the development front,” said Manzoor Ahmad Pampori, President Urban Local Bodies Employees United Forum.
 Kashmir has more than 5000 employees including sweepers working in different municipalities. “All employees will join the protest,” Pampori said.
 The non-utilization of the development funds in Kashmir valley had come to fore during a meeting of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislative Assembly recently.
 The blockade of funds by the HU&DD is not the only issue that is forcing local bodies employees to hit the roads.
 In 2008 state government had ordered reorganization of the local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Accordingly government had approved creation of more posts in the Municipal Corporations.
 “Despite recommendations by the 12th Finance Commission, government continues with adhocism in Kashmir municipal corporations,” Pampori said. 
 According to him, the FC had recommended that salaries for the local bodies should be fixed as per the staff strength. “However government continues with the criteria of area and population for salaries of the corporations in Kashmir only. Our salary is being realized after months and that too not for the entire staff of the corporations,” he said.  “Either the funds are not approved for the development works in Kashmir or they are not released on time.”
 Pampori said the shortage of manpower at higher level in local bodies including Junior Engineers, Assistant Executive Engineers and Executive Engineers is another issue the local bodies would be taking up in the protests tomorrow. “The manpower shortage is severely affecting works in the Valley,” Pampori added.
 The employees allege that the Deputy Chief Minister is now pressurizing various wings of H&UDD in the valley to rush through inauguration of unfinished projects to showcase that development was going on in Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST