Underlining the need for strengthening disaster management mechanism in the Jammu region, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Sunday urged the government to come out with a detailed response to the US Report on likely earthquake in the wake of fault line in Reasi developing pressure for some time now. “A scary psychosis is prevailing as the published report fears 8.0 or greater magnitude earthquake, having potential to impact 1.5 million population of the Jammu city besides 700000 in Reasi belt”, Rana said while participating in discussions in the Jammu District Development Board meeting.He said unprecedented panic has gripped in the city and its peripheries and therefore the government must spell out measures in order to instill confidence in general publicDeputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who presided over the meeting, appreciated the concern and asked the Chief Secretary to have an expert team constituted to study the report and suggest necessary measures to meet any exigency.Rana, who represents Nagrota in the Legislative Assembly, elaborately discussed various issues confronted to the people in respect of development and other utility services.Referring to difficulties being faced by people dwelling near army establishments with regard to new constructions and renovation of their houses, Rana asked the State Government to take up this issue with the Centre for reviewing the prevailing guidelines and working out modalities to have hassle free permissions granted by appropriate authorities. “Till such a mechanism is devised, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu be asked to coordinate with the army and have the problems of residents living near Kanyala and Ban Ammunition Depots and other areas adjoining the Army in the Nagrota Assembly Constituency resolved amicably”, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister asked the District Development Commissioner to look into the matter earnestly.Rana also called for development of Nagrota and its inclusion as Institutional-Business district in the Jammu Master Plan.Focusing on development of the Constituency, the MLA sought upgradation of Nagrota-Nomai via Chibba-Marh and Bamyal via Devi Mai Bridge as an heritage road for the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. “For this a bridge on Devi Mai is imperative”, he said.Principal Secretary Public Works Department informed the meeting that an exhaustive plan involving Rs 66 crore is being submitted to the Centre for funding in this regard.Rana also sought new bridges to be constructed at Tarah-Chilla and Pali sectors.Unfolding the huge potential of the Constituency in dairy sector, Rana sought establishment of a milk chilling plant at Tada besides opening of animal husbandry units at Bajalta-Sidhra, Marh-Bamyal, Dansal-Badsoo and Surinsar sectors. He said these are needed on immediate basis to cater to the requirements of animal and sheep rears.The Provincial President also referred to the need for making higher education for girls at the door-steps and sought a Women Degree College at Nagrota. “This will cater to the need of the entire belt and give fillip to female education, which has been showing encouraging signs over the years with girls shinning in all the examinations”, he added. He also sought filling up of the vacant posts of Urdu teachers in various schools of the constituency.
Expressing his dismay over the inept implementation of National Food Security Act, the MLA said that the people were facing enormous difficulties on the front of rations. He sought inclusion of under-five year old children under the ambit of rationing. To this the Deputy Chief Minister assured that the issue will be examined at appropriate level.Drawing the attention of the Board to the accumulating problems of the people on account of power and drinking water supply, Mr Rana said that the government cannot abdicate from its basic responsibility of ensuring these in a regulated manner, especially in the wake of current unprecedented summer spell. He sought creation of adequate transformers bank to meet the exigencies. He also demanded uninterrupted flow of water for irrigational purposes and referred to the need for upgradation and improvement of Ranjan Lift Irrigation scheme.Urging the government to ensure completion of various developmental projects across the Jammu District in a time bound manner, the Provincial President expressed concern over delay in the completion of Gandola Project originating from the heritage Mubarak Mandi Complex, Tawi Artificial Lake and beautification of Tawi banks. He sought holistic development of Surinsar Lake as primary tourism attraction of Jammu.He also stressed the need for establishing a cricket stadium of international standards at Bajalta for which land has already been acquired Meanwhile, the MLA Nagrota provided two scooties to physically challenged persons of the constituency and announced 12 more such scooties for the identified persons under his Constituency Development Fund.“This is major step towards empowering physically challenged by enhancing their mobility”, Rana observed. (KNS)