Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq today said that the department has set on a journey to create useful assets in rural areas besides creation of employment opportunities under MGNREGA.The Minister said while conducting a detailed tour of Reasi district and inaugurated numerous roads, culverts and bridges besides inspecting many ongoing works in the district.Mr Abdul Haq was accompanied by Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Nanda, DC Reasi, SP Reasi and other senior officials of the district. He said their effort is to reach to every nook and corner of the state and identify the hardships and resolve their issues. The Minister directed the concerned officers to ensure developmental schemes are executed efficiently and benefits reach the common masses.The Minister instructed the officers to ensure proper monitoring and execution of various RDD schemes including IAY, MGNREGA, RHS, SGSY, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, IWDP etc. at district levels. He stressed that tangible results should be visible on ground.He said the Chief Minister is very particular about the development of rural areas and keeps on asking for regular reviews regarding the functioning of the department.
At Panthal block, Abdul Haq inaugurated a tiled lane constructed under MGNREGA at a cost of Rs 5.98 lakh connecting two villages of Kakriyal Panchayat. The locals thanked the Minister for fulfilling their long pending demand.Mr Abdul Haq also inspected under-construction CFC at Khandak village in Panthal block which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 45.21 lakh. The Minister directed the officers to accelerate the pace of work so that the building is completed by the end of this month.The Minister also inaugurated a 1300 feet tiled road connecting different localities of Panthal from main market to Floriculture Park. The road has been constructed under MGNREGA at the cost of Rs 14. 78 lakh in four phases. At Diadora Panchayat of the Panthal block, the Minister inaugurated another 906 feet tiled road at a cost of Rs 8.79 lakh. Mr Haq also inaugurated a 55 feet bridge at Lornu in Bhaga Panchayat of Katra block being constructed in convergence with MPLAD and MGNREGA.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ajay Nanda hailed the efforts of Rural Development Department for upgrading the developmental scenario of the rural villages. He said the assets created under MGNREGA are very economical as lesser budget is required to create assets in this department unlike others.Nanda said several innovative initiatives have been taken to make the functioning of the department accountable and transparent, with the aim that the benefits of the schemes would reach the rural masses well in time.He lauded Minister Abdul Haq and his department for doing commendable job in the district adding that many developmental works have either been completed or taken up by Rural Development Department, and a visible change is visible on the ground in the shape of well constructed culverts, bridges, or roads.