SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, stated on Saturday that soon after he assumed control of the Union Territory on August 7, 2020, he decided to eliminate a costly practice that had a significant impact on the treasury. He also mentioned that most major government services are now operating in “online mode.”
While addressing the BHU Urology Update and Alumni meet organized by SKIMS, Srinagar, at SKICC, he explained that the decades-long practice of the Darbar move came to an end when government offices were relocated back to Srinagar in May 2021. In the past, files used to be transported in 270 trucks between Srinagar and Jammu,” he stated.
He further added that the Darbar move practice required the annual rental of 1,000 rooms in Srinagar and 800 rooms in Jammu to accommodate officers and officials.
The LG highlighted that nearly 400 government services are now available in online mode under the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA). He stated, “All services are on auto-escalation mode. If an official fails to provide a birth certificate within 15 days, the matter will automatically be escalated to higher authorities, and appropriate action, including fines, may be taken.”
LG Sinha also mentioned that Srinagar is currently crowded with tourists, and he receives inquiries about room availability on a daily basis. “Last year, J&K received 1.88 crore tourists, and this year we expect the numbers to increase even further,” he remarked. “Hotel infrastructure will be developed not only at the tourist resorts but also at the district level within the Union Territory.”
He stated that prior to 2020, 9,000 developmental projects were completed annually, but this year, the administration is on track to complete 93,000 projects. “The funding costs remain nearly the same, with no significant difference,” added the LG.
Regarding the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar from May 22 to May 25, the LG acknowledged the event’s global prominence, despite similar meetings taking place in various parts of the country. He emphasized that the successful G-20 meet in Srinagar would not have been possible without the support of the local population.
