Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said that transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption is the hallmark of the present dispensation and both central and state governments are working on the agenda of providing good governance to the people.Chairing a high-level meeting here today to review the progress of development projects in district Poonch, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed the need for judicious use of funds and human resource to ensure better delivery of services.The Deputy Chief Minister said efforts are being made to restore and revive pristine glory of Poonch.Minister for Sheep and Animal Husbandry Abdul Ghani Kohli , Member Legislative Assembly Haveli Shah Mohammad Tantray, Member Legislative Council Yashpal Sharma, Commissioner Secretary Housing & Urban Development Hridesh Kumar, Director Urban Local Bodies, Soujanya Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Poonch Mohammad Harun Malik and other senior officers from District Administration and Police were present at the meeting.The Deputy Chief Minister asked the district administration to reach out to the people and focus on development and good governance and be sensitive and responsive at all levels towards public needs as well as accomplishing the works entrusted.
Earlier Deputy Commissioner Poonch gave a resume of the financial and physical achievements of the Department of Urban Local Bodies. It was informed that there are two municipalities in the district including Poonch and Surankote. The meeting was told that municipality of Poonch was established long back in the year 1935 prior to independence and it is one of the oldest municipalities in the state having total area of 4 sq km , 17 wards and population of more than 22000. The meeting further told that out of 36 km road length 32 km has been black topped this year. Efforts are apace to make municipalities self reliant, the meeting was told.The meeting was informed that under the district plan in Urban Development sector against the allocation of Rs 15.41 lakhs six works of different in nature were taken up and 70 percent of works have been completed. It was also revealed that under IDMT against the allocation of Rs 18 lakh , 11 works were taken up and most of the works are at in finishing stage.Under CD Fund of Rs 25.80 provided by MLC Asphalt Sharma, 11 works taken up are likely to be completed in Poonch municipality this fiscal, the meeting was told.Regarding the Municipal Committee Surankote, it was informed 100 percent expenditure was made under IDMT, untied Grants and CDS. For Solid waste management in municipal limits, two pieces of land one at Degwar Poonch and another at ward no 13 of Surankote have been identified, the meeting was apprised.While projecting their demands the local legislators said that Poonch town has its own historical importance and because of negligent attitude of the successive regimes many historical buildings like Poonch Fort, Town Hall, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal have lost their glory.
The legislators also brought it into the notice of Dy Chief Minister that major projects for developing Poonch municipality are still unapproved from the central government. They requested for early sanctioning of the said projects. They also informed the chair that embankment of Poonch town is urgently required to save it from floods.Responding to the demands projected in the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Poonch is the face of Pir Panchal and it acts as a nerve centre. He said a road map would be chalked out to address the developmental and other issues of the area. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the central government is liberal in providing funds for making J&K a model state in respect of creating infrastructure for roads , bridges, school buildings, health centers, drinking water supply.He further said that to revive the glory of important monuments in Poonch, he would take up the matter with Union Culture Ministry and the state government.Later the Deputy Chief Minister also addressed largely attended public meeting where he promised the gathering that government is committed and sensitive to fulfill all the promises made to the public and measures are a foot in this regard. “Public are our strength and their welfare is our mission we are endeavoring in this direction with firm determination and keen interest,” he asserted.