Jammu: Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government, opened here on Monday after a 10-day break as part of the bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’.
Besides the Civil Secretariat, the other move offices, including Raj Bhawan and police headquarters, also opened here after six months of functioning in Srinagar.
Governor, Satya Paul Malik arrived at Civil Secretariat where he was warmly received by the Advisors, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, Administrative Secretaries, representatives of various employees’ unions and a large number of officers and employees of Civil Secretariat.
The Governor inspected the ceremonial guard of honour by a contingent of J&K Police and interacted with Advisors, officers and employees and enquired about their well being.
The ‘Darbar Move’ was started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme heat during summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar.
The practice was continued by elected governments post-independence to provide governance benefits — by turns — to both Kashmir and Jammu regions of the state for six months.
All necessary security and other arrangements have been made to ensure smooth functioning of the government from here, officials said.
Addressing a press conference, Malik announced that the government will give compensation to the farmers who lost their crops due to snowfall in Kashmir.
He said authorities have started the process to assess the damage caused in Kashmir.
Jammu was not affected much, he added.
Untimely snowfall in Kashmir on Saturday damaged apple crop worth crores of rupees with a large number of fruit-laden trees either uprooted or their stems broken, officials had said.
Kashmir also suffered a power outage due to the snowfall.
Electricity was restored in parts of Kashmir on Sunday.
“The power supply in the remaining areas will be restored within two days,” Malik said.
The Governor also reviewed functioning of the government machinery in a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat here.
Governor directed for prompt action to alleviate miseries of people due to bad weather and heavy snowfall in some areas of the State and survey of damage caused to apple orchards due to the heavy snow. He reviewed adequacy of food items, fuel, supply of electricity and other basic amenities in areas of heavy snowfall.
Governor reviewed the schedules of examinations and preparedness of school education department to facilitate students taking exams in this harsh weather.
Expressing serious concern over the recurring motor accidents, Governor directed for strict compliance of road safety measures and sternly dealing with traffic offenders. He directed a stringent check on overloading and over speeding public transport vehicles. He advised the traffic regulating authorities and the Transport Department to carry our drives for screening of untrained and medically unfit drivers and not to allow unfit vehicles to ply on roads.
While reviewing Health sector Governor reviewed preparedness for launch of Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission in the State. Chief Secretary informed that the Scheme will be launched on 1st December this year and all identified families will be provided insurance cover under the scheme by 15th December 2018.
Governor also reviewed the law and order scenario in the State and on ground work being done by the district administration Kishtwar to maintain peace and normalcy in the area.
Governor emphasised the State administrative machinery to function with speed, efficiency and accountability.
Khurshid Ganai, B.B. Vyas, K. Vijay Kumar, Advisors to Governor, BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, Dilbagh Singh, DGP, K.B. Agarwal, Financial Commissioner Housing and Urban Development Department, Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to Governor, R.K. Goyal Principal Secretary Home, Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary Finance, Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning and Administrative Secretaries of various departments participated in the meeting.
