Malik reviews situation, earmarks Rs 125 Crore to take up B2V works

JAMMU: Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday evening reviewed the security situation in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions, and called for constant alertness to ensure peace and normalcy, even as he earmarked Rs 125 Crore to kick-start the works identified during his administration’s ambitious Back to Village programme.
Malik reviewed to-date status of security and law and order scenario in J&K and Ladakh in a meeting held at the Raj Bhavan, which was also attended by his Advisors-- K Vijay Kumar, K K Sharma, K Skandan and Farooq Khan, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Financial Commissioner to Governor Umang Narula.
While reviewing the law and order situation and preparedness of the government machinery, the governor emphasised the need for constant alertness, preparedness and synergy among various departments and agencies to enable dealing with emerging situation in a coordinated and effective manner, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said.
Malik was given assessment of the prevailing situation regarding the adequacy of essential supplies and delivery of various public services to the people, including electricity, water supply and health care services in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions.
He was informed that there is no dearth of essential commodities and their supply is being ensured to people.
During the meeting, Malik also reviewed the progress in 'Back to the Village' programme started by the J&K administration in June.
The governor directed the Finance Department to place Rs 5 crore per district and Rs 5 crore per divisional commissioner to kick-start the follow-up to this programme, by taking up minimum of one work per Panchayat identified in Back to Village programme.
“Further the funds released by the 14th Finance Commission to Panchayats so far (Rs. 800 crores) can be leveraged by DCs by incentivizing Sarpanches to spend money on Back to Village works with DCs giving a small matching grant for each work,” the spokesman said.