• Assures unbiased governance for all
• Chairs review meeting at Samba district
SAMBA, DEC 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reaffirmed his government’s commit-ment to unbiased governance, emphasising that decisions would not be influenced by political affiliations or party lines.
Chairing a district review meeting at the Conference Hall in Samba, he urged officers to address public issues raised by elected representatives with seriousness and urgency.
Highlighting the importance of responsive governance, Chief Minister Abdullah said, “I urge all of you and your officers to address the public issues raised by MLAs with seriousness and ur-gency. They are elected representatives of the people, and it is natural for people to expect solu-tions through them. As I have always maintained, this government—or any government—should not make decisions based on the basis of political affiliations. We must prioritize whether a pro-ject holds public utility or a public issue benefits the people. If it does, it must be processed and dealt with without delay.”
Abdullah acknowledged the challenges faced by the administration, particularly citing the two major elections held this year, which impacted the progress of developmental activities. He re-marked, “The Parliament elections stretched over a long period, and the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct brought work to a halt. Even in some areas, where the work season coincided with the elections, progress was further delayed.”
On district-specific concerns, the Chief Minister urged the administration to expedite develop-mental activities, stating, “Accelerate the pace of work as much as possible, ensuring it is execut-ed effectively at the ground level. Efforts must focus on completing the work satisfactorily.”
He also stressed the importance of timely submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) for funds to be allocated by the central government, saying, “When we approach the central government repeatedly—whether to discuss with a minister or secure funds for Jammu and Kashmir—the common complaint is that UCs are not submitted on time. Prompt submission of UCs will ensure continuity of financial support and effective resource utilization.”
Speaking on governance, Abdullah noted the impact of the return of MLAs after 2018, remark-ing, “With the return of MLAs, public expectations and pressures have significantly increased. This requires a coordinated effort to address the people’s demands effectively.”
During the meeting, Abdullah took note of key issues raised by MLAs, such as progress on in-dustrial estates and installation of smart meters. He directed an immediate review and resolution of these concerns. On the issue of drug addiction, which has been a growing menace over the past decade, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to curb its impact. He said, “Despite securing international borders, the problem persists due to inflow from other areas. Addressing this issue at its source is critical for our state.” He assured action, noting that the Deputy Chief Minister had already directed the DC and officers to address the issue prompt-ly.
Abdullah also addressed critical infrastructure concerns, including delays in the Katra-Amritsar-Delhi Expressway project. He urged officials to resolve land acquisition and other bottlenecks to ensure the project remains on track. On staffing issues, the Chief Minister expressed concern over vacancies in hospitals and schools due to the practice of staff attachments, and directed officers to provide details so that corrective measures could be taken to fill posts in rural areas.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of addressing public grievances raised by DDC members, MLAs, and civil society during the public outreach programme. Issues such as drinking water supply, sanitation, regularization of daily wagers, upgradation of schools, establishment of colleges in remote areas, industrial policy, and staff shortages in hospitals and schools were also discussed.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Rajesh Sharma, presented a detailed profile of the district, outlining targets and achievements across various departments, including Jal Shakti (PHE), Pub-lic Works (R&B), Power Development, Education, Health, Agriculture, and Social Welfare.
The Chief Minister also e-inaugurated three key projects and laid the e-foundation stone for an-other transformative initiative aimed at enhancing public welfare and boosting regional develop-ment. Following the review meeting, he conducted a redressal camp where local residents, indus-trial representatives, and delegations from far-flung areas submitted grievances and demands. Abdullah assured that genuine concerns would be resolved promptly.
Chief Minister Abdullah praised the district’s overall performance despite challenges, expressing confidence in continued cooperation and progress. He encouraged MLAs and stakeholders to submit priority projects in writing for inclusion in the upcoming budget proposals to ensure better planning and execution in the next fiscal year.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar, Satish Sharma, District Development Council Chairperson Samba, and Members of Legislative Assembly SS Slathia (Samba), Chander Prakash Ganga (Vijaypur), and Devinder Kumar Manyal (Ramgarh). Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Addi-tional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries, departmental heads, and other senior officers were also present.
