Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma today convened a meeting of officers and reviewed the progress of various development works being executed in Akhnoor, Jourian and adjoining areas.The Minister, who is here to attend the summer secretariat, also reviewed the progress on various development works being started under JNNURM. Director Local Bodies Jammu Arun Sharma apprised the Minister about the progress on various projects being under execution/ proposed. The Minister stressed for cent percent utilization of funds under various centrally sponsored schemes and also directed to ensure quality work so that durable assets are created within stipulated time frame. Later, the Minister interactd with various deputations and inpiduals including Sarpanches, Panches, social activists and political workers from different parts of Jammu region who called on him here today.
While speaking on the occasion, Sham said that all round development of the state is priority of the government and efforts are afoot to ensure better basic facilities to the people especially living in far off and border areas of the state. The Deputationists, inpiduals, Sarpanches and Panches apprised the Minister about the problems and demands of their respective areas and sought an early redressal to the same.Responding to their demands, the Minister assured that all their genuine demands would be redressed at the earliest. He called upon local representatives to generate awareness among the masses about various government schemes and welfare initiatives, adding that exemplary programmes like SKEWPY have been started to encourage entrepreneurship among the youth so that people start looking beyond the government sector for employment. He said Panchayat representatives should keep a close vigil on the progress and quality of works.