Tribune News Service
Srinagar, July 6
The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today decided to create eight more districts raising the number from 14 to 22 with equal share to both regions of Kashmir and Jammu surpassing the three- decade-old Wazir Commission recommendations.
It has also approved
the appointment of a De-limitation Commission to carve out additional Assembly segments of 25 per cent strength in the two divisions of Kashmir and Jammu and the PoK.
An amendment to this effect would be made in the Assembly session that begins here on July 28. The elections to the new Assembly constituencies, presently comprising 87 seats, would be held in 2008.
Describing the decision of giving eight more districts as political and historical, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told a press conference here this afternoon that his government favoured further implementation of the common minimum programme. Apart from the eight more districts, the Cabinet has also approved the decision of creating three sub-divisions and 13 tehsils.
The Cabinet also decided to constitute a sub-committee on the human rights that would look into the implementation of the recommendations of State Human Rights Commission. This decision, according to Mr Azad, was taken in view of the complaints about human rights violations at the hands of the security forces while combating militancy. This would be constituted tomorrow and start functioning from day after, as the government was aware of the complaints regarding the human rights violations, he added.
Referring to the growing unemployment in the state, the Chief Minister said employment oriented development was being adopted, as opined in the Cabinet that a committee aimed at employment generating development works was being constituted that got the Cabinet nod. Dr M S Swaminathan would be the Adviser on this committee, steps for which had been initiated in the Mufti-led coalition government.
The Cabinet also approved the constitution of the Police Reforms Commission and Finance Commission. The Chief Minister added that the Finance Commission was aimed at judicious distribution of resources to all three regions of the State—-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Giving details, the
Chief Minister said four districts each had been constituted in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. These include Bandipore, Ganderbal, Kulgam and hill district of Shopian in the Kashmir Valley, and Samba, Kishtwar, Reasi and hill district Ramban in the Jammu division. Three sub-divisions of Khan Sahib in the Kashmir Valley and Gandoh and R S Pura in the Jammu division. had also been created. With the constitution of new districts, 13 tehsil headquarters had also been constituted, Mr Azad added.
Mr Azad said three sub-divisions of Khan Sahib in Budgam district, Gandoh in Doda district and R S Pora in Jammu district had also been approved by the Cabinet. He said 13 new tehsils of Srinagar-North, Srinagar-South and Laar in Srinagar district, Kokernag and Damhal-Hanjipora in Anantnag, Boniyar and Kreeri in Baramulla district, Mjalta in Udhampur district, Atholi in Doda district, bani in kathua district, Khaltsi and Sumur (Nobra) in Leh district and Sankoo in Kargil district had also been approved by the Cabinet.
Meanwhile the PDP has hailed the creation of new districts in the state, saying the decision was overdue and the process in this regard was put into motion immediately after the coalition government took over in October 2002.
In a statement the PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, felicitated the people of the newly- created eight districts for getting the district status for their respective areas.
