Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma convened the monthly public meeting at Akhnoor to review the status of ongoing development works in the areas besides taking stock of people problems. According to the statement issued, among others sarpanchs, panchs, officers of different departments besides large number of locals were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, Sham exhorted upon the officers to ensure enhanced basic amenities to the people across the State with focus on hilly and far-off areas. He asked the concerned authorities to ensure timely and quality completion of development works. He said that the Government has brought people of border areas on the path of development and sought early completion of schemes and programmes launched for their welfare.He said that an effective monitoring mechanism has been put in place to enforce accountability and transparency in implementation of development works in the state.
Exhorting upon the Sarpanchs and Panchs to perform their duties with utmost care and concern, the Minister said that Government has given them adequate powers to ensure better development at the grass root level. He said that the developmental activities initiated by the Government have changed the socio-economic profile of the people of the State. He also stressed the need to develop trust and maintain coordination among PRIs and administration for speedy development and better delivery of Government schemes on the ground.
Sham said that Government is committed to upgrade the existing infrastructure of PHE and Irrigation so that the people of the State get safe drinking water and irrigation facilities. He said that agriculture is life line of the State’s economy as high percentage population is directly or indirectly engaged with this important sector. He instructed the concerned engineers and officers to formulate a comprehensive plan for the revival of irrigation canals, traditional reservoirs and check dams to improve the ground water table.On the occasion, Daily Wagers and other need based employees of PHE and other concerned departments thanked the Minister for PHE for his key role in the decision taken by the cabinet, which met few days back in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.