Union Minister of State, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh laid foundation stone of PMGSY road from Block Boundary Kathua to Boura today.The 14.20 Kms road link will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 16.92 crore connecting 13 habitations and benefitting around 3000 souls of the area.While addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government of India has laid special thrust on improving road connectivity scenario in J&K for which a whopping Rs 3600 crore has been sanctioned for 10th stage of the PMGSY scheme which is all time high. He said under the scheme a total of 73 roads will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 405 crore in district Kathua.Dr Singh informed the people that Kathua district will be developed as model district for which several key projects were taken up such as Biotechnology Park, Seed processing unit and others. He further said that construction of roads and bridges to the tune of Rs 850 crore were taken up in last two year in the district.
He said Keeriyan Gandyal Bridge, Juthana Bridge, Pandori Bridge, widening of Dayala Chack and Basohli roads are key projects which will ease out big populace from connectivity hardships.The Union Minister reiterated that works for constructing bunkers for border residents as well as provision for 5 Marlas of land for border families is in process and every endeavour shall be made to protect the lives of border residents.He further added that 81 Kanals of land has been identified for 5 Marlas plot in tehsil Hiranagar to provide land to those border families use to migrate during border firing/shelling. He said ex-gratia for border firing victims has been increased to Rs 5 lakh at par with militancy affected victims.He said that Rs 2000 crore package for POK refugees announced by Prime Minister Narinder Modi is landmark decision, added that Rs 5 Lac per family is not final award as said by Prime Minister.Earlier MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia thanked Union Minister for prioritizing several development projects in the district. He said landmark decision like setting up Medical and Engineering College in the district will have long term consequences on education profile of the district.Chief Engineer PMGSY P.L Bhushan, DDC Kathua Ramesh Kumar, SSP Kathua Pawan Parihar, ASP Kathua Khalil Poswal and other district and sectoral officers and large number of people were present on the occasion.