Cong councilors question functioning of JMC on various issues

| Jammu |

Elected representatives in the Jammu Municipal Corporation from Congress party have raised various questions over the functioning of the BJP led corporation and alleged its failure to come up to the expectations of the general public of the municipal limits.
In a Joint press conference today all Congress councilors have raised several questions regarding the functioning of the corporation. The councilors questioned that the sanitization process has been stopped, when the COVID-19 cases are on rise. However, they questioned the earlier material supplied by the corporation and asked whether bleaching powder is effective in the sanitization in the COVID-19, since the corporation used bleaching powder for the sanitization job, they also demanded that the corporation should disclose the total amount spent on the various components of the sanitization so far and carry forward the process by use of effective material in view of the growing effect of COVID-19. However, they also claimed that in most cases they purchased their own Sodium Hypochlorite out of their own pocket.
The street lights as per required numbers have not been provided and installed in the wards from last one and half year and the process for the same was to be carried by EESL with whom the MOU was signed but same has been further sublet to local agencies, as a result almost 20% of Street Lights installed so far has turned out to be defunct in less than 2 months. We seek quality work and no compromise on the quality of material, so that people don�t suffer in the long run. Congress has opposed the move of JMC to impose 1% additional tax in the shape of stamp duty on the transfer of any property within the limits of JMC and termed it as a additional burden on the common man. Raised the issue of proposed move of the BJP led JMC and termed it as against the interest of common man. JMC has already passed the resolution seeking imposition of 1% additional tax recommending the govt. to do the needful. They said that congress councilors have already objected to the corporation in writing but the corporation is silent on this issue. At that time it has given to understand that this 1% shall be from within the existing stamp duty but it came out to be in addition to the existing duty, so we oppose this move in writing. It is pertinent to mention for the financial liability of the Municipal Corporation and other local bodies. The previous congress coalition government had enacted the finance commission act in the year 2011. As per provisions of 74th Amendment, the govt. failed to setup implementation of the act and setup the finance commission to allocate funds to the corporation and other municipal bodies as per provision of the act. They claimed that the congress had incorporated all the relevant provisions of 74th Amendment in J&K through its consistent struggle in the coalition govt. However, this govt. has failed to translate those provisions in the state act/acts into action.
Apart from finance commission there is important legislation enacted by the congress coalition govt. regarding the setup of anti-corruption body to investigate the allegations of corruption in the corporation and other municipal bodies i.e., ombudsmen act as per J&K Municipal Act 2010.
Ombudsmen under the act it is the retired judge of the high court of the person eligible to become the Judge of the High Court shall be the Ombudsmen. We may further say for the knowledge of all that we the 33% women in the municipal corporation and all municipal bodies are the product of 74th amendment in J&K, simultaneously SC & ST incorporation and other corporation bodies are also product of 73 & 74 amendments. We are not coming up to the expectation of people as there should be 1 general house meeting every month. Since the Srinagar Municipal Corporation can conduct vote for no confidence and change the mayor of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation during the COVID-19 and can conduct the meetings of standing committees then why can�t the same meetings can be conducted by Jammu Municipal Corporation?
The threat of COVID is not existing but increasing in our country. We are no. 3 in the world and report indicates that it will take alarming/dangerous shape in our country we shall be ready with the healthcare facilities otherwise we will fail like other states. It has been confirmed by the Health Department that there are less than 100 ventilators available in Jammu. So catering more than 60 lakh population of Jammu province with 0-80 ventilators are not sufficient and
at the same time man power of JMC to cope up with the covid-19 pandemic affairs is also not sufficient, immediately additional manpower is required in all the wards to maintain the hygiene standards.
The chief whip of congress councillors Mr. Dwarka choudhary briefed the press and media along with councillors namely Mr. Kamal singh, Mrs..Rajni Bala, Ms.Bhanu Mahajan, Mr. Rajinder singh Jamwal, Mr.Gourav Chopra, Mrs.Inderjeet Randhawa, Mr.Sobat Ali, Mr. Mohi-ud-din Choudhary, Mrs.Ritu Choudhary,Mrs. Charanjeet Kour Shingari, Mr.Pritam Singh, Mrs. Rama, Mr. Rachpal Bhardwaj.