Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh today said face-lifting of Lakhanpur and other areas of Kathua district through a futuristic Master Plan would revive its pristine glory.The Minister while laying foundation of several lanes, premixing of various roads and waiting shed at Lakhanpur said the Government is aiming to bring positive developments across all the regions of the State. The work is being executed under the supervision of MC Lakhanpur.The Minister also laid foundation stone for installation of statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh at gateway of J&K, Lakhanpur. For illumination the minister directed EO Municipality, Lakhanpur to install high mast lights and further directed DFO Kathua to plant trees along the roads of Lakhanpur besides in Govt High School Lakhanpur premises.
While addressing a huge gathering at Lakhanpur, Singh said the development works worth Rs 1 crore have been taken up for development of Lakhanpur alone. Face is the index of mind and it reflects the overall condition of the body, similarly Lakhanpur holds a distinctive significance of being the face of our state and it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to keep it clean and green, Lal Singh said. He further said that the bust of Maharaja Gulab Singh will soon be installed which will symbolize the rich and diverse heritage of our culture.In order to give impetus to tourism and provide basic amenities to tourists, Lal Singh said after every 25 kms from Lakhanpur to Jammu along the national highway, cafeterias along with washrooms will be opened to facilitate the tourists. Highlighting the significance of Bani–Basohli tourism development authority, the minister informed that Lakhanpur is included in this development authority and this step will prove to be a game changer in developing Basohli as a major tourist hub provided every stakeholder should fulfill his responsibility by maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in and around his surroundings.
Taking serious note of traffic jamming in Lakhanpur, Lal Singh said that discussions with every segment of the society along with concerned authorities will be made to decongest the traffic and directed the concerned traffic regulating authorities to immediately stop parking of vehicles along the highway at Lakhanpur.Earlier in the day, at Government Middle School Dukhat, zone Lakhanpur of Kathua district, the minister inaugurated 3 additional class rooms under SSA.At Govt. High School Tridwan, the minister laid foundation stone for constructing 6 class rooms at an estimated cost of 40 lakhs. He also announced construction of 3 more rooms costing Rs 14 lakhs along with school compound wall at the cost of Rs 4 lakhs besides ICT lab worth Rs 7.5 lakhs.While laying foundation of various development works at village Dukhat, Patyani, Tridwan and Hatli of Basholi, the minister said that thrust is laid on improving the road communication of Basholi for which tractor roads to remote locations and macadamization of roads, which are in their final phases will be done before the ensuing monsoon season. He also urged the villagers to take maximum benefit from various time bound schemes which are specially meant to improve the overall development scenario of their area.