Srinagar, July 16: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance asking the administration to make e-tendering and e-procurement a rule in the functioning rather than exception, an official handout said.
  “You should follow e-tendering and e-procurement as a rule rather than exception”, the CM told the administration stressing on bringing all departments under this system.
 He also emphasized third party monitoring of projects in all the departments adding that besides physical and financial aspects, formulation of DPRs should also be brought under the purview of third party monitoring to check over-inflation.
 While giving directions for time bound service delivery and completion of works, the Chief Minister said that three more departments have been brought under Public Service Guarantee Act to expand its ambit and bring more services under the Act for time bound delivery.
 The Chief Minister approved Rs. 59.80 crores Annual Plan for Srinagar district for the year 2012-13 and gave nod to the allocations available at last year’s level under special area development programme at Srinagar District Development Board meeting he chaired here today.
 The Chief Minister said that further additionality wherever required would be considered during the review of the plan expenditures in November-December this year, the handout added.
 Omar Abdullah said that development of Srinagar and Jammu cities, for being the Capitals of the State, require focused attention for holistic development “Government is fully aware of this need and measures are afoot in this direction,” he said.
 The Chief Minister said that the recommendations of Finance Commission for enhancing Srinagar district plan size and the recommendations of Planning Board being constituted by the government will be factored in the formulation of comprehensive and up to the mark district development plan for Srinagar to address the development needs.
 Citing special areas of focus in the development process, Omar Abdullah said that “establishment of community halls, land acquisition for projects, improvement to health institutions including GB Panth Hospital and setting up two new maternity hospitals, upgradation of general drainage system, Dal development, development of garbage dumping sites at Achen, widening of Panthchowk to decongest traffic, Reconstruction of Dastgeer Sahib (RA) Shrine, development of artisan clusters, construction of bridges, widening of roads, macadamization, improvement in water supply, streetlighting and better delivery on public service are areas of special attention.”
 Omar Abdullah said that a bypass project from Pampore to Rambagh is being implemented to ease the traffic congestion in Panthachowk area. He said he has already released Rs one crore for this project last year.
  “I announce another Rs One crore for it today,” he said and added that a comprehensive decongestion scheme is being worked out with the National Highways Authorities. “I am personally monitoring the 4-laning of National Highway project on regular basis and this issue has been discussed with the Authority. I hope necessary action will be taken by the Authority in this regard,” he maintained.
 Omar Abdullah said that during the current year two important bridges at Padshahi Bagh and Saidpora will be completed by the ERA while work on Jahangir Chowk Flyover will start from November-December this year. He said Rawalpora, Channapora, Tengpora, Alochibagh and various adjacent areas will be brought under drainage improvement programme under ADB.
 The Chief Minister said that the government has formulated a comprehensive transport mobility project for Srinagar city by RITES and the report in this regard has been received. “The project involves Rs 23000 crores and covers requirements up to the year 2031. We are working to project the requirement of funds before the Union Government in this regard,” he said adding that Housing and Urban Development Department has been asked to identify the essential components earmarked in the report that could be taken in hand for implementation by the State Government.
 Addressing the meeting, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah who is also Parliament Member from Srinagar announced Rs. 10 lakh each from his Parliament Member’s Constituency Fund for all legislators of Srinagar district for taking up smaller works in their Assembly Constituencies.
 The meeting was attended by Minister for Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul, Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Vice Chairmen of Advisory Boards, MA Bukhari, BA Naaz, Rachpal Singh, Kuldeep Verma and Shamima Firdous and Legislators, Dr Mustafa Kamal, Muhammad Yasin Shah, Peer Afaq Ahmad, Irfan Ahmad Shah, Dharam Veer Singh Oberoi and Muhammad Ashraf Mir, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning, BB Vyas, various Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon, Heads of the Departments and District Development Commissioner and district officers.
 The Chief Minister “appreciated the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar and his team for achieving 99 percent performance on plan expenditures during the last year”, the handout said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST