Despite some developmental initiatives, the Poonch administration is facing a credibility crisis, Paid agents press into service for image building
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: Although some developmental initiatives have been taken in the Poonch district by the young DM, despite that, the administration is facing a credibility crisis on a number of issues, including scripting land fraud, selective anti-encroachment drives, and various administrative lacunas that have decreased the reputation of the administration.
Sources in the Deputy Commissioner office told “POONCH TODAY,” pleading anonymity, that the first three months of the young DM were excellent, as he was seen working with a positive frame of mind and without any influence, but after that, reports of his favoring selected PRIs and coming under the influence of a few people with questionable credentials and taking some decisions full of partiality have brought his image under a big question mark. Just a few days ago, the district administration was accused of illegal mutations in the Bawli area of Nangali sahib, which took place with the ill intentions of revenue officials. Sources also said that it is not yet clear whether revenue officials have misinformed the Deputy Commissioner office about the mutation in question or whether the DM himself approved the mutations, as this issue is a matter of investigation because the mutation in question was not accepted by the former DM. Are revenue officials working under a hidden agenda? This thing needs to be investigated by the government, said the affected parties. Locals, while talking to “POONCH TODAY,” alleged that the administration seems to have started working with malafide intentions, as evident from selected actions against various evils. No action has yet been taken against the encroached land of Raja Sukhdev Singh Hospital and Red Zone areas. Even in the issue of retrieving various government (State, Forest, and Kahcharai) lands and buildings from the illegal encroachers, no solid efforts were made by the administration. There are also reports that some subordinate officers give a cold shoulder to the orders of the DM, and it seems that the coordination between the DM office and subordinate officers is poor. On the other hand, much hue and cry was made on the issue of illegal constructions in the “Red Zone” area, but due to a single and seemingly targeted action against one party in the red zone area, the affected party levelled serious allegations of partiality by the district administration, as no action was even taken against big encroachers. However, the latest land fraud in the Bawli area of the Nangali sahib area further lowered the reputation of the administration. Sources also said that a few self-styled social workers have direct access to the office and residence of the DM, and they used to play a major role in guiding the DM on various issues. Outside the DM office, they play the role of PRO in building the image of the DM office through some people. After the news of recent land fraud and various administrative lacunas has come into the public domain, the credibility of the administration has further decreased, and to save its reputation, some traditional paid agents with no public backing and doubtful credentials, but close to the administration, have been pressed into action for an image-building exercise in favour of the district administration. Reports available with ‘POONCH TODAY” say that the UT administration has taken a strong account of the state of affairs in the Poonch administration, and further action is under consideration into the issue. However, despite facing a credibility crisis on the ground, the Deputy Commissioner office has also taken some major developmental initiatives in different areas of the district, and reportedly, more such initiatives are still in the pipeline. Some major plans for the future are reportedly also ready from the office of DM. However, in the long run, the district required a master plan for development, but no sincere efforts have been made by any important chair for the master plan, and as a result, funds are being used in a haphazard manner. A senior citizen said, “DC is young and full of energy, and he was keen to initiate some big developmental activities in the district. We expected a lot from him, but it seems he has come into the wrong hands, ultimately proving wrong for him.” At the top level, LG and Chief Secretary stand committed to providing transparency at all levels, but at the ground level, due to the credibility crisis that the Poonch administration is facing, people are feeling helpless as they want an efficient administration on the ground, not those who have been accused of partiality and inefficiency. It’s high time that LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Atul Dullo address the genuine concerns of the people of Poonch district because the people want development and justice on the ground and not injustice by means of different ongoing revenue frauds and several acts of partiality on the part of the administration.