Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr Abdul Haq today convened a meeting to review various schemes under Rural Development Department in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban Districts, here.MLA Doda Mr Shakti Raj Parihar, MLC, Mr Shyam Lal Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Mr Bhupinder Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mr Bashir Ahmed Dar, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Mr. G.N Balwan, Director Rural Development, Jammu, Mr M.L Raina, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said during the tenure of present dispensation a big change has been witnessed in performance of the department. He stressed on taking up tangible works like construction of pacca-path, foot bridges, plantation, water harvesting tanks, irrigation canals , link roads , culverts and bridges and added that more focus should be laid on taking up such works in convergence with other departments so that a pool of resources is created that could be utilized for creating durable assets.Recounting some of the initiatives taken by the department, the Minister said that salary of GRS has been hiked by 25 percent and measures viz revision of rates for skilled and unskilled labourers, material, carriage etc will follow soon.
The Minister said that the department is in process of devising a SRO which would make it mandatory to obtain NOC from RDD for construction of houses, that shall go a long way in keeping a check on encroachments on Kahcharai, State land and land along roads. He also announced that the department shall award best performing panchayat and employee to give a boost to their working spirit.Underscoring need of proper tracking and monitoring of works under the department and to ensure quality work, the Minister said that he shall personally carry out surprise visits to various blocks. Appreciating Geo- Tagging of works under project Nigraan in Kishtwar District, the Minister said that other districts should also follow suit to ensure transparency and quality of works.Under the initiative “My Village my World” , Mr Abdul Haq impressed upon all field functionaries of the department to spread awareness among the masses regarding clean villages, springs, rivers and natural resources so that these could be preserved for future generations.Meanwhile, the Minister also held panchayat wise interactive session with ACDc, BDOs, JEs, VLWs and GRSs of the three districts and enquired in detail about various works taken up, performance, quality, number of works taken in convergence with other departments and progress achieved. He directed them to ensure completion of works during the present working season, besides impressed upon them to maintain quality of work.Deputy Commissioners of all the three Districts were asked to identify a patch of State land in their respective districts where the department could establish nursery, orchids and sericulture plantations in convergence with other departments.On demand of MLA Doda, Mr Haq Khan announced that a suspension bridge shall be constructed over river Chenab in Naseeb Nagar, Doda by the department for which the MLA shall give an amount of Rs 30 lakh from his constituency development fund. ACD Doda was directed to prepare detailed projected report in this context. The Minister said that a large population will get the benefit of the said bridge.MLA Doda while speaking on the occasion appreciated efforts of the Minister for improving work culture in the department and hailed his initiative of enhancing rates in the department.Earlier, Mr Khan inspected a Pond at Pakki Hati, Two Pacca paths at Pakki Pati and one Paccca path at paryote –B all in Block Khellani of Doda District.He also inaugurated a Panchayat Ghar at Malwas which has been constructed under 13 FC and MGNREGA at an estimated cost of Rs 26.40 lakh.