Jammu: A delegation of Presidents of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir Division, Monday called on Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department to apprise him of various issues pertaining to Municipal Councils/ Committees of the region. The delegation demanded devolvement of function of various departments to Urban Local Bodies as per 74th Amendment be expedited.
The delegation was informed that demand for advance funding under PM Awas Yojna has been acceded to and government instructions have been issued in this regard. Regarding street lights in various Municipal Councils/ Committees, the delegation was apprised that a survey team of EESL is conducting survey which shall be completed by March, 2021 and new LED street lights would be installed thereafter. It was also informed that the government has already issued instructions to transfer all vacant state lands within Municipal areas to the concerned Municipality.
The delegation also raised the issues of security cover, insurance to the elected representatives, providing of vehicle, representation in DDC and increase in honorarium to elected representatives. Principal Secretary assured that all these demands will be examined and appropriate decision shall be taken in this regard. Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, Director Planning, HUDD, Director Finance, HUDD, Additional Secretary (R), HUDD, Mohammad Iqbal, President, Municipal Committee, Dooru, Irshad Ahmad, President, Municipal Committee, Handwara, Mushtaq Ahmad, President, Municipal Committee, Devsar, Jehangeer, President, Municipal Committee, Sumbal, Umar Kakroo, President, Municipal Council, Baramulla, Pali Singh, President, Municipal Committee, Pattan, Mohammad Altaf, President, Municipal Council, Ganderbal, Abdul Kareem Dar and President, Municipal Committee, Kunzer were present on the occasion.
