Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today directed ERA to ensure time-bound completion of development works undertaken by the agency in Jammu city and its peripheries so that people get benefited from these initiatives.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a review meeting of ERA convened to discuss the status of various development programmes undertaken by the agency in Jammu and its peripheries.Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Mr Vinod Sharma and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Dr Singh asked the officers to work in close synergy with other line departments so that the pace of developmental works is fast-tracked and these are completed within the shortest possible time by ensuring speedy removal of bottlenecks. “ERA should convene regular meetings with other line departments to get the requisite feedback about ongoing works besides removing any hindrances which may occur so that these developmental initiatives are completed in time bound manner. Special focus should also be laid on maintaining quality of work and holding regular checks about the material being used”, he maintained.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government is committed to develop the state on modern lines so that it comes up as one of the model states of the country. “The government has already undertaken several welfare schemes and programmes all over the state without giving any preferential treatment to any particular area or region. Instructions have already been passed to the concerned to ensure that transparency and accountability is maintained in every domain of governance and implementation of various welfare programmes so that these are made need and area based in consonance with the requirements of the people”, he added.
The meeting was informed that under ADB funding, 150 kilometers of roads have been widened and upgraded besides 9 bridges have been completed under road communication sector. Similarly, under the potable water sector, 336 km pipeline has been laid, 53 water storage reservoirs and 54 tube wells commissioned, 38 tube wells redeveloped resulting in augmentation of potable water supply in Jammu by 32 MGD.
It was also given out that 39 kms of drainage network have been completed, 24 public toilet commissioned under drainage sector besides under capacity building of PHED 35 water tankers have been purchased and 26 garbage carriers, 15 loaders, 10 sewer cleaning equipment, 175 containers purchased for capacity building of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
The Deputy Chief Minister, later inspected several ongoing projects of ERA and directed the officers to speed up pace of work on these projects.Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister chaired a review meeting of PDD. It was attended by Chief Engineer Procurement and other Chief Engineers of PDD.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that the funds earmarked for the augmentation and upgradation of the electric infrastructure of the state are utilized to the maximum while maintaining the requisite codal formalities. He said that we have to ensure that the power sector which forms one of the vital departments of the government for providing the requisite services to the people is properly augmented in order to check losses being incurred and also stop pilferage of the electricity.
Dr Singh asked the officers to put in place necessary mechanism by which the smart meters can be installed in the houses so that power pilferage if any can be checked. He said by doing so the Department would also get requisite information about the total quantity of power being consumed.The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the officers to speed up revenue realization in power sector. He said squads should be constituted for the same besides checking losses and power pilferage.