J-K govt contemplates to conduct Municipal Election: Dy CM

A decade after holding elections to urban local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government is contemplating to conduct the Municipal Election for which the process has begun.
The government is contemplating to conduct the Municipal Election and the issue is under submission with the General Administration Department, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said in reply to a question by Satpaul Sharma in the Assembly here today.
He said the last elections for local bodies were held in 2005.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that government would pay focused attention to upgrade the basic facilities in cities and towns of the state.

He informed the House that losses worth Rs 169 crore have been sustained on account of withholding Central Assistance to the state for not conducting the local body election during the past four years.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Municipal Corporation of Jammu and Srinagar came into existence by the enactment of Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000 in the year 2003.
He also gave the details of a number of Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees existing in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, in the House.
The members of the House, Vikar Rasool, Dr Gagan Bhagat, Er Abdul Rashid and Rajeev Sharma raised the supplementaries and demanded enhancement of funds besides expansion of wards and adequate staff for proper sanitation in their respective Municipal Councils.