“Sensing the non seriousness of the ministers and MLAs about the delivery of public service in the post snowfall periods the bureaucrats also did not respond to the breakdown in power and water supplies in any of the districts barring Ganderbal in Kashmir Valley.”
The Divisional Administration Kashmir hours after the maiden snowfall last week was not found visible in any district in valley as a key inter-district route connecting North Kashmir’s twin districts of Baramulla and Kupwara remained shut for two consecutive days. Absolutely true it is that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself rushed to his home constituency Ganderbal to take stock of the snow clearance operations but his two ministers presently representing Kashmir in the six member Union Territory cabinet were found engaged with routine administrative activities in winter capital Jammu instead of showing their presence in valley for assisting Chief Minister in relief and rescue operations in North Valley districts. Unfortunately the public anger in different districts of North and South Kashmir against the MLAs of ruling National Conference did not attract immediate attention and intervention of the Chief Minister for remaining away from their parent districts even after the videos against their absence in their home constituencies went viral on social media sites. Sensing the non seriousness of the ministers and MLAs about the delivery of public service in the post snowfall periods the bureaucrats also did not respond to the breakdown in power and water supplies in any of the districts barring Ganderbal in Kashmir Valley. The suspension of three Asstt Executive Engineers (AEEs) for dereliction of duty in a hilly South Kashmir district in post snowfall period shows that accountability has come to a new low in the mid winter periods of “Chilla-i-Kalan” in Kashmir Valley. Ironically amid the breakdown of public services after the snowfall the local bread makers popularly calls “Kandurs” dared to hike the price of bread from Rs 5- to Rs 10/- per piece obviously due to no control of the enforcement wing of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department over the prices of local commodities . Ironically the local breads are not being sold at reduced rates even after announcement by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir in the light of decision taken by him a high level meeting and all this is happening due to unprecedented delay caused in the revival of the enforcement wing of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA).
Power supply which remains at the centre of difficulties in the working of key public services during mid winter periods though improved in last 24 hours in Srinagar does not still improving in the rural parts of Kashmir Valley after the recent snowfall. Similarly the snow clearance though completed in Summer Capital Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir is not still heading to completion on roads connecting villages with district headquarters anywhere in any district of Kashmir Valley. Administrative wisdom demands that ministers and MLA re-establish their connection with the people on ground to develop a sense of accountability among the officers atleast during mid winter periods of “Chilla-i-Kalan”.
Unfortunately even after the completion of first two months of its tenure the Omar Abdullah led National Conference Government does not seek any explanation from the bureaucratic top brass of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department for keeping the enforcement wing on suspension mode. Notably the enforcement wing of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) has a brilliant track record of keeping prices of local commodities under control for more than last seven decades. Power supply which remains at the centre of difficulties in the working of key public services during mid winter periods though improved in last 24 hours in Srinagar does not still improving in the rural parts of Kashmir Valley after the recent snowfall. Similarly the snow clearance though completed in Summer Capital Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir is not still heading to completion on roads connecting villages with district headquarters anywhere in any district of Kashmir Valley. Administrative wisdom demands that ministers and MLA re-establish their connection with the people on ground to develop a sense of accountability among the officers atleast during mid winter periods of “Chilla-i-Kalan”.
