Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, today inaugurated a public waiting shed and launched a sapling plantation drive at Gurha Slathia, Vijaypur.Member Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Director Rural Development Department, Pradeep Kumar, ADC Samba, Pawan Kumar Sharma, ACD Tilak Raj Thappa, Executive Engineers PWD (R&B), PDD and PHE, BDOs Vijaypur and Ramgarh were present on the occasion.The Minister, while dedicating waiting shed to the people, said that the shed is result of participative democracy which empowers the people with decision making and project implementation.The shed has been built under convergence plan with a cost Rs.5 lakh were made available under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme whereas MGNREGA provided for the labour component.Launching the plantation drive, Ganga reiterated the need for sustainable development and stressed the requirement of such drives in mitigating the environmental challenges being caused on account of human activities of both domestic and industrial nature.
“Increase in carbon stock will not only restore environmental balance but will ensure continuous supply of raw materials which is a prerequisite for sustaining development”, the Minister said.The Minister also urged upon the people to explore feasibility of planting different species of trees ranging from aromatic, medicinal, horticulture and fodder plants owing to the climatic conditions of the area.Speaking on the occasion, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that assets of such kind are constructed and maintained with direct participation of the masses. He appreciated the hard work and dedication of the people in working well in sync with the idea of participative governance and urged them to replicate the same vigour in subsequent plantation, cleanliness and maintenance drives. Earlier, the Minister for Industries and Commerce distributed Tri-Scooty among the handicapped and disadvantaged people which were sponsored by State Rehabilitation Council in collaboration with department of Social Welfare. He also handed over appointment letters to the next-in-kins of deceased employees of the state government under SRO 43.