Minister for R&B, Gardens Parks and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, accompanied by senior officers of district administration, conducted an extensive tour of several parts of Amirakadal Constituency and took stock of the basic needs of the people and developmental works taken up there.Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Chief Engineer, R&B, SK Razdan, Superintending Engineer, SMC, Ishtiaq Ahmad Shah besides other senior officers and engineers from SMC, Irrigation and Flood Control, PDD, CA&PD were accompanied the Minister.
During the visit, the Minister met the locals at Gangbugh, Hyderpora, Peerbagh, Chann Mohalla and received brief from them about their basic needs. The people mostly demanded construction of lanes and drains, macadamization of roads, erecting of electric poles, augmentation and installation of transformers, establishment of Ration Ghats, de-silting of irrigation canal and drains, upgradation of school, laying of new water pipes besides upgradation of PHC and completion of Marriage hall at Gangbugh.
Giving details, Superintending Engineer, SMC Ishtiaq Ahmad informed the Minister that a comprehensive drainage project of Rs. 4.45 crore has been framed for these areas and is under tendering process. He said work on the project will be started immediately the tendering process is finalized. He said once the project is completed it will address the problems of the area once for all.Regarding completion of marriage hall at Gangbugh, he said that Rs 1.40 crore are being spent on the project and is expected to be completed by November this year.The Minister while inspecting Primary Health Centre (PHC) functioning in the area was demanded its upgradation as Community Health Centre (CHC) so that people of the area can get round the clock medicare facilities in this health centre. On demand, the Minister released Rs. 10 lakh for construction of fencing wall of PHC and said that work will be started by JKPCC from this week itself. He said health sector is among the priority sectors of the Government and assured people that Centre would be equipped with latest diagnostic facilities and adequate medicos.
Syed Altaf Bukhari said that Government is making all out efforts for improving basic facilities of the people, adding that the plans framed for the purpose will fulfill all public demands. He asked the authorities of PDD department to replace old and wooden poles wherever it is become imperative to avoid any fatal incident. He asked them to provide new poles as per the demands of the people of these areas. “Take necessary steps for augmentation of power supply by way of either up-grading existing transformers or installing additional transformers of 250 KV capacities” he instructed concerned engineers.
The Minister also directed Assistant Director, CA&PD to take measures for setting up of Ration Depot in the area where these have been demanded so that people facing problems in getting monthly ration are benefitted. He asked engineers of PHE department to frame long term plans for augmenting water supply besides laying of big diameter pipes in these areas.
Responding to the demand of macadamization of roads, the Minister said that drainage is essential component of road projects and directed concerned engineers to construct drains before going for macadamization. He asked them to go for macadamization where drains have already been constructed.