Road accidents: Saroori alleged that government has withdrawn all SRTC buses from erstwhile Doda district

Saroori vociferously pleaded the cause of SPOs, VDC demanding their regularization and enhancement in their wages

Kishtwar, September 01: - Senior Congress Leader and MLA Inderwal, G M Saroori today expressed serious concern over the increasing road accidents in the Erstwhile district Doda. He alleged that out of 37 State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses introduced by the government after several accidents, 34 have been withdrawn. With the introduction of SRTC buses, the number of accidents had gone down, he said but after the withdrawal of 34 buses, the number has again risen. Saroori said because of less number of vehicles, passenger vehicles always remained overloaded resulting in accidents.

Hundreds of people are killed every year in road accidents on highways across JK with Chenab Valley and Pirpanchal region recording the highest rate of accidents. He blamed the Government for the growing rate of accidents in the State particularly in Chenab Valley and Pirpanchal region. “The accidents happen in Chenab Valley every other day and the government is not taking any step in this regard.” said Congress MLA, G M Saroori. He said last month a road accident took place in Sinthan Kishtwar in which nine persons including three doctors were killed and yesterday also on Thanala road in Bhaderwah two person died. “The government is not taking any step to prevent the road accidents,” he alleged.

Saroori castigate the Government for “shelving” the recommendations presented by a House Committee, headed by Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has not been implemented which had suggested measures for checking frequent road accidents. He demanded immediate implementation of recommendations made by house committee.

Cutting across party lines, G M Saroori on the last day of Assembly vociferously pleaded the cause of Special Police Officers (SPOs), Village Defence Committee (VDC) in the Legislative Assembly demanding their regularization and enhancement in their wages from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 in view of present market inflation.

“State government should take up the matter of enhancement honorarium of SPOs, VDCs from existing Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month with Union government for early sanctioning, as State Government has submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for concurrence”, Saroori demanded.

Saroori also demanded for early establishment of newly sanctioned health centers including 23 in Inderwal constituency under NRHM in different identified areas before the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct due to ensuing Assembly elections in the state beside Saroori alleged that daily wagers in PHE, who are providing water to people in far flung and remote areas, are being paid only twice in a year—Eid or Deepawali– festivals. Saroori said as per the information received in the finance department up-to July 2, 2014, around 53,000 casual and need based workers are reportedly working in various government departments. Saroori demanded that all those daily wagers/casual labours who have completed seven years of service as per the norms should be immediately regularised and enhance the wages to the need based and causal workers in the Jammu and Kashmir state.