Jammu, March 31: Two key legislative committees in Jammu and Kashmir are set to review eight reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India that have been tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public Undertakings will deliberate on the audit findings to determine subsequent actions.
The Chenab Times has learned that Tsewang Tharchin, the Accountant General (Audit) for Jammu and Kashmir, announced this during a press conference held at the AG Office in Jammu. He detailed some of the significant observations from the audit reports, which span various sectors including lake conservation, public health infrastructure, and financial management within the Union Territory.
Concerns Over Lake Conservation and Management
Among the tabled reports, the audit on the conservation and management of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir for the period ending March 2022 highlighted several critical issues. According to the report, changes in land use around the Dal Lake were noted due to the non-acquisition of land from local dwellers. Deficiencies were also found in the functioning of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), the de-weeding mechanism, and the overall monitoring and surveillance of the lake, which hindered the restoration of its open water area.
The audit report further indicated inadequacies in the implementation of conservation programs funded by the National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) and the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP). Specific deficiencies were identified in the installation and upgrading of STPs, treatment of solid waste, and the provision of sewage disposal facilities to households. It was also observed that some operational STPs were found to be polluting rather than treating wastewater.
Further detailing the findings related to J&K’s lakes, Tsewang Tharchin pointed out concerns regarding the relocation and alignment of houseboats, the shifting of hotels, and inadequate augmentation of the lake’s water budget. Issues with catchment management and the relocation and rehabilitation of Dal Lake dwellers were also cited as areas of concern.
The Wullar Lake conservation and management program reportedly suffered due to the non-constitution of monitoring bodies, which prevented policy matters of the Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) from being decided. The absence of a detailed plan led to the forfeiture of financial assistance from the central government for the lake’s rejuvenation, while insufficient afforestation efforts contributed to increased siltation and accelerated aging of the lake.
An analysis of remote sensing data for 63 audited lakes between 2014 and 2020 revealed significant shifts in land use. The area of open water decreased, while other land uses such as built-up areas, pasture, vacant land, agriculture, and plantations expanded. The audit noted that seven of the sampled lakes were either not visible or had nearly dried up, with specific land use changes observed in Khushal Sar Lake and degradation and shrinkage of Anchar Lake.
Shortages and Uneven Distribution in Health Sector
The audit report on the public health infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir for the period ending March 2022 pointed to persistent shortages across all cadres within health institutions. The government had not ensured the availability of adequate posts aligned with the population served, adversely affecting health services. These shortages were particularly pronounced in critical roles such as doctors, staff nurses, and paramedical personnel.
The report indicated an uneven distribution of available manpower across districts. As of March 2022, Jammu and Kashmir had 30,745 doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff against a sanctioned strength of 46,115, representing approximately 67 per cent of the required workforce. This translated to one government doctor serving a population of 2,191, or one allopathic doctor per 2,461 individuals. While the doctor-to-population ratio was noted as better than in Haryana and Punjab, significant disparities existed within the UT.
The shortfall in manpower was lowest in Kulgam district at 11.52 per cent and highest in Kishtwar district at 43.55 per cent. The Health and Medical Education Department also faced a shortage of specialists. In District Hospitals, manpower shortages led to long waiting times for patients or forced them to seek care elsewhere.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), shortages of doctors, paramedical staff, and nurses were recorded at 19 per cent, 8 per cent, and 16 per cent respectively for 2021-22. In six sampled districts, while most emergency services were available in District Hospitals, the availability of Emergency Operation Theatres was lacking in seven out of 18 sampled Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs). Blood storage units were also absent in 10 out of 18 tested SDHs and nine out of ten tested Community Health Centres (CHCs).
Furthermore, specialized outpatient department (OPD) services like ENT, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, and Skin & VD were unavailable in a significant number of District Hospitals. All required essential OPD services were not present in all 18 tested SDHs, and all OPD services as per IPHS norms were missing in the 10 tested CHCs. Registration counters were also found to be inadequate in Tertiary Level Hospitals and District Hospitals.
Tsewang Tharchin also shared findings from the remaining six audit reports during the press conference.
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