Finance Commission on two day visit to J&K

They met representatives of rural and urban local bodies of the state who apprised it of their fund requirements among other issues

The 14th Finance Commission led by former RBI Governor Y V Reddy, which is in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day visit, has met representatives of rural and urban local bodies of the state who apprised it of their fund requirements among other issues.

The Commission, including former Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen, former Finance Secretary Sushma Nath, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Director M Govind Rao and former acting Chairman of National Statistical Commission Sudipto Mundle, arrived here yesterday, an official spokesman said.

The team was informed by the local bodies that out of the total 4,128 Panchayat Halqas, construction of as many as 1,678 Panchayat Ghars were undertaken during the 13th Finance Commission, but 265 Panchayats are still without buildings and require funds to the tune of Rs 795 crore for their construction.

The demand for the provision of honorarium of Panches and Sarpanches was also be taken into account during the recommendations of the Commission, he added.

The representatives of the rural local bodies from all the three regions of the State - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - putforth their demands for effective functioning of the Panchayats, including infrastructure developments, disaster management, sanitation, exploitation of the diverse climatic conditions besides augmentation of manpower, the spokesman said.

He said they also demanded various initiatives for boosting rural economy, besides generation of revenue for which the 14th Financial Commission has to provide liberal funding for strengthening the rural infrastructure.

Later, the 14th Finance Commission interacted with the representatives of Urban Local Bodies who demanded support of the commission for development of public utilities including public conveniences, parks, community halls, parking spaces, bus stands, lane and by-lanes besides sewerage, drainage, water supply, urban transport, solid waste management, urban poverty alleviation and conservation of water bodies.

He said against the projection of Rs 1,339 crore during the 13th Financial Commission, only Rs 204 crore were awarded.

He said the members of the Finance Commission while deliberating on various demands put-forth by representatives urged that the commission shall supplement the initiatives of the State Finance Commission.

The Commission also held interaction with trade and industry representatives who highlighted the measures to be initiated for the development these segments, he said.

However, for the preparation and implementation of city sanitation plans, upgradation of civic amenities, creation of multi-layer parking lots and shopping complexes, decongestion of urban areas, among other issues, funds to the tune of Rs 4,795 crore were proposed to the Commission, the spokesman said.