Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today stressed upon the district administration to encourage public participation in the development process as public is the real stakeholder.The Minister was speaking at a public grievance redress camp at Dak Bungalow Rajouri convened with the aim of reaching out to the people for redressal of their issues.Zulfkar informed the participants that government has approved Rs. 10 crore for establishment of Cluster Model Village in Gundah, Keri and Bala villages and sought community participation for formulation of development plan for these villages.DDC, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director FCS & CA R. A. Inqalabi, Controller Legal Metrology R. K. Katoch, SSP Yougal Manhas, Executive Engineers of various engineering departments along with other district officers were present in the meeting.
Public in large number from Kanthol, Marouta, Kandi, Budhal, Gabbar, Darhal, Nadian, Chowkian, Dadaj, Jamola, Kha, Panjnara, Swari, Rehan, Tralla, Nagrota, Sankari, Kalakote, Ghambir, Qila Darhal and other far off areas of the district attended the camp and sought redressal of their grievances related to improvement in availability of basic amenities.Issues pertaining to macadamization and upgradation of important roads, augmentation of power and water supply system, rationalisation of staff in educational institutes and health centres and delayed MGNREGA and PMAY payments were taken up for discussion and on spot directions were given for speedy redressal of the issues.The concerned officers apprised the Minister of latest status of work on various important projects being executed in the area.The Minister directed the concerned officials for timely completion of works on roads from Choudhary Nar-Dajaj, Rajouri-Darhal, Budhal- Gabbar, Swari, Badi Darhal-Badyal, Prori-Darhal, Raikibaan-Kemrigali and Chowkian-Sankari.
Responding to the demand of installation of electric poles in various areas, the Minister directed the Executive Engineer PDD to project comprehensive figures of poles required in the district within next 15 days. He also stressed that the damaged transformers should be replaced as soon as possible to ensure adequate power supply in these remote areas of the district.The Minister also directed the concerned to carry out survey of all the hamlets/villages which are facing acute shortage of water so that a comprehensive plan can be framed to address the issue. He approved Rs 20 Lakh under Tribal Sub Plan for provision for 1000 pipes for augmenting water supply to Mera.Zulfkar also directed the CEO and CMO to rationalise the postings of staff in various educational institutes and health centres so that a balance in teacher-student and doctor-patient ratio is ensured.
The CEO was further directed to submit a detailed proposal regarding feasibility of establishing new schools in various areas as per public demand. Besides, strict instructions were given for restarting the construction work on GMS Leeran.The Minister called upon the officers to ensure cent percent utilisation of funds in a judicious way for creation of tangible public assets.He directed the concerned that the development projects should be completed within stipulated time so as to avoid cost escalation.“The government has initiated a massive outreach programme to have first hand appraisal of public grievances and in this regard the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has already convened many public grievances redressal camps in various districts of the state”, the Minister asserted. He also directed all the officers to submit the Action Taken Report on decisions taken in previous camps.Later, the Minister inaugurated 3 km Mera-Khaitan Road constructed at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore. He said the government has initiated a slew of projects for the holistic development of the area including construction of Rs 139 crore medical college and Rs 50Lakh LMD Lab.The Minister directed the SE PHE to prepare a detailed DPR for providing drinking water to the public of Chowkian area.