Srinagar, May 25: Expressing serious concern over the slow pace of developmental works in Jammu and Kashmir, the governor administration has directed the heads of departments to remove the bottlenecks for the execution of the works at the earliest.
Funds worth cores of rupees lapse annually due to its non-utilization in the state.
Despite clear directions for the timely utilization of funds, the developmental works suffer mainly due to the lackadaisical approach of the authorities.
An official document accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that the Advisors to Governor, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to Finance Department, in a meeting with the administrative secretaries, expressed serious concern over the slow pace of developmental works.
“Principal Secretary expressed concern regarding the pace of expenditure during the first month of current financial, primarily due to the Model Code of Conduct. He emphasized the need to catch up with the lost time,” the document reads.
The Advisors directed all the administrative secretaries and deputy commissioners to point out “issues faced by them” in execution of the works in a time-bound manner.
Chief Secretary directed the deputy commissioners to identify causes of delay in the works in consultation with all the departments and resolve the problems.
“All the Advisors stated that allotment of works on nomination was highly undesirable. Principal Secretary Finance stated that such practice defeats the purpose of actual discovery of price and is against norms and canons of financial propriety, and should be strictly avoided,” the document reads.
Officials also pointed out that the bills are not being furnished on time for the incomplete projects. This was viewed seriously by the senior officers and administrative secretaries were requested to own up these works at the earliest.
Sources said the dismal performance under PMDP was also viewed seriously and departments were advised to identify and remove bottlenecks so that works under the project are executed on time.
Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Arun Kumar Mehta, also wrote to the district development commissioners to furnish the yearly district action plans.
“All district development commissioners shall initiate tendering process immediately after the end of model code of conduct to ensure that process is completed before March 31. The annual maintenance contract should be based on the rate of contract as per laid down rules and regulations,” the order reads.

Srinagar, May 25: All Kashmir university examinations to be conducted on Sunday will be held as per the schedule while the examinations scheduled for Monday have been postponed, said an official of university.
“All the examinations scheduled on Sunday will be as per schedule. However, the examinations scheduled on Monday have been postponed and will be held on 29 June now,” Controller Examination, Professor Farooq Mir told The Kashmir Monitor.
“We learnt that due to the internet blockade, students were not able to download their admit cards, so we have rescheduled examinations that were held on Monday,” he said.
Kashmir observed a complete shutdown for two day following the death of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, Chief, Zakir Musa on Friday morning. Authorities had imposed restrictions in various parts of the valley and closed all the educational institution will remain till Sunday.

Srinagar, May 25: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Saturday welcomed the steps taken by the administrative department of Health and Medical Education (H&ME) department regarding restoration of administrative seniority in health department.
In a statement, DAK spokesperson said the decisions “will instill new energy and confidence among medical officers and consultants.”
“Even though the pace in restoration of administrative seniority is slow, doctors across the state hope that the steps so initiated in last couple of months will be taken to the logical end,” the spokesperson said.
President, DAK, Dr Suhail Naik, as per the spokesperson, said that that the Association has, time and again, demanded the restoration of administrative seniority in health department as per regulations drafted strictly in recruitment rules for appointing such officers.
“In peripheral hospitals it has been observed that it becomes difficult for senior doctors to work under administrative officers, who are junior to them, which leads to indiscipline and unworthy work culture,” Dr Naik was quoted saying by the DAK spokesperson.
The spokesperson said it has been brought into the notice of DAK that some junior doctors “for their vested interests are using their relatives to garner support in front of higher ups so that they can be again re-appointed as administrators in health department.”
“We request the authorities that neither any relative of any doctor nor the general public must influence or interfere in appointing any junior doctor as administrator, this cannot be accepted nor tolerated,” the DAK spokesperson said.
DAK urged Advisor, K Vijay Kumar and Principal Secretary Attal Dullo to further look into the matter and bring some pace in restoration of Administrative Seniority in Health Department as per recruitment rules so that this long pending demand of the doctors is met once for all.