How will cash starved JK manage funds, ask experts

 New admin unit

 

Srinagar, Feb3: Puncturing the hype associated with the creation of the 659 administrative units across state, experts on Monday termed the move as an attempt to draw political mileage rather than streamlining administration.

The announcement of the creation of 659 new administrative units in J&K has evoked a sharp criticism given the financial constraints’ state is facing over the years.

Arjumand Hussaid Talib , a development consultant, associated with an international organization says creation of new administrative units will further mar the developmental prospects of state, “New Administrative Units facts – I: J&K’s revenue expenditure (which includes salaries and other administrative costs) rose from Rs 10614 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 22,680 crore in 2010-11, which is 113 per cent in only five years. In contrast our capital expenditure – was only Rs 5899 crore in 2010-11. Now imagine what will be available for development! Why this celebration?” Talib wrote on social networking site Facebook.

According to reports, the sub divisions (46) would entail an expenditure of Rs 143.52 crores, tehsils (135) Rs 507.60 crores, CD blocks (177) Rs 500.91 crores and Niabats (301) Rs 358.19 crores. The new units would require 10,521 staff members including 358 gazetted officers and 10,163 non gazetted officials. Experts warn that the move would prove disastrous for the state given the pace with which state has moved during the last five years viz-a-viz revenue generation.

Talking to Precious Kashmir, former chairman of the Federation Chamber of Industry Kashmir (FCIK) Shakeel Qalander said that the creation of new administrative units should be deferred till the state government increases its revenue expenditure. “Government should defer the CSC recommendations till the state increases its revenue expenditure.  I don’t think government has a capacity to build these units as far as the present financial position of the state is concerned. My estimation says it will cost the state beyond Rs.2000 crores for physical expenditure, Rs 1000 crores for the staff members including gazetted and non-gazetted employees and Rs 200 crores for other costs which includes electricity bills, telephone bills etc.”

Taking a jibe at the collation government for the decision, Spokesperson of the opposition PDP, Naeem Akhter said, “Let’s see how government implements the new administrative units in the state. If coalition government has approved the CSC recommendations then government should have thought about the funds as well. Its implementation now lies on the shoulders of chief minister Omar Abdullah. Coalition government has said that central government is going to provide funds for these units, we will wait and see the results.”

Social Activist, Touseef Raina terms the move of government as ‘façade’, he writes, “New Administrative Units? Frankly speaking…this is all none sense (SIC). This is simply Politics at the cost of People’s prosperity and welfare. From where will they manage additional funds of Rs. 15000 Crore and much more?”

“Corrupt politicians and influential bureaucrats will keep on sucking the blood laced, hard earned money of tax payer of the country. Before taking such a huge step CM and other stake holders should have first ensured better governance and required infrastructure etc. More doors for looting of the public resources have been opened up. At least I cannot celebrate this kind of decentralization,” Raina further adds.