SRINAGAR: The former ministers of the PDP- BJP coalition are yet to vacate their official bungalows despite governors rule imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir since the past one month.
Though these former ministers could reside in these official bungalows, after the last government headed by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ceased to exist, for a month and were supposed to vacate them within that period but not even a single one except that of the chief ministers residence at Jammu was vacated by anyone of them.
The Directorate of Estates has revealed that the former ministers of the BJP-PDP coalition were bound to vacate the official bungalows till February 7 but as on February 10, there is no progress yet.
According to the officials in the Estates Department, former Ministers are required to vacate the official accommodation within a month of appointment of the new government. A notice is served to the occupants after completion of one month. The occupant is required to vacate the property within 15 days of the notice being served, said a senior official.
Meanwhile, reports informed that the former ministers have given cold shoulder to the repeated pleas of the estates department and are apparently in no mood to vacate the government property.
Further, it was learnt that a notice to several former ministers have already been served but till date the action seems to be a distant dream. Sources said that they continue to use free water, electricity and others doles that used to be offered to them when they were in office They are doing nothing but still the services out of the public money are being provided to them. There seems to be lot of chaos on ground as the department itself is in a fix over what to do, an official said.
As the governors rule was imposed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir after the demise of the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7, this year, his family was the first one to vacate CMs Jammu bungalow on January 28.
Mehbooba on 5 February gave a hint that the PDP would break the alliance with the BJP if the Union government did not announce JK specific confidence building measures to end the stalemate.
It remains to be seen that what action Raj Bhavan would initiate to vacate the government buildings which are at present in possession of the former ministers. Would the stern action in this regard be in the offing or the state would continue to run with common man bearing the brunt and helmsmen enjoying luxuries.
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