Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq Khan today conducted extensive tour of Ramban and Udhampur districts and reviewed the pace of ongoing development works.At Ramban, the Minister was accompanied by MLA Ramban, Neelam Kumar Langeh, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ramban Mohammad Aijaz, SSP Ramban Mohan Lal, ACD, DPO, Executive Engineer and other officers.The Minister said that Ramban is a hilly district which poses unique set of difficulties for the officers and appreciated the Rural Development Department for working relentlessly to ease the life of rural masses.The Minister informed that RDD has constructed more than 33 bridges in Ramban over nallahs and flowing streams for uninterrupted movement of the people during rainy season besides helping to prove the roll of children in schools.He further said that the department has provided 9.16 lakh man days to job card holders in the district till date, besides constructing 26 panchayat ghars, 70 ponds and 2,664 toilets. The department is constructing pacca paths, community facility centers and foot bridges in the district, he added.
While inspecting Circuit House Building in Maitra, the Minister directed the executing agency to redouble their efforts and expedite the pace of works to complete the project within stipulated time frame.He impressed upon the officers to maintain quality standards while executing the works besides ensuring cleanliness, sanitation and ban use of polythene in rural areas.During his surprise visit, the Minister directed ACD to place VLWs of Maitra and Kunfer under suspension and terminate the services of GRSs concerned for not implementing ban on polythene use in their panchayats.He also directed the DDC to call an explanation from concerned officers in this regard.Earlier the Minister also visited Udhampur and inspected various ongoing developmental works in the district.MLA, Udhampur Pawan Kumar Gupta and Director, RDD Jammu RK Bhat also accompanied the Minister during the visit.While inspecting various development works including foot bridges, lanes, drains and khuls, the Minister directed the officers of the concerned departments to complete the construction work within stipulated time frame. He also took stock of the CFC building being constructed under convergence mode with MGNREGA, CDF and MPLAD schemes in Battal.Among others, ACD Udhampur Om Prakash, Ex- En REW, BDO Udhampur, AD Planning and the Technical wing of RDD were also present during the visit.