Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq, Thursday pitched for making constituencies as nodal points of development and plan execution. He also urged public representatives to serve as prime movers of development by properly monitoring the developmental activities. The Minister stated this while chairing District Development Board meeting of Kulgam district to discuss and approve the annual district plan today.MP Nazir Ahmad Laway, MLAs Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, Abdul Majid Bhat, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Abdul Majid Padder, DDC Kulgam, Heads of concerned Departments, District and Sectoral officers, besides other concerned attended the meeting.On the occasion, DDC Showkat Aijaz Bhat briefed the Minister about progress made in the implementation of previous DDB decisions. It was given out that against availability of Rs 68.29 crore, an expenditure of Rs 45.13 crore has been made by mid-February 2017.Under R&B sector, the meeting was informed that work on Science Block of Government Degree College Kulgam has been completed; besides, 12kms of road length under NABARD has been macadamized in the district. It was also said that work on Brazloo bridge on Kulgam-Qazigund road, 1x15 metre span bridge on Kulgam-Chambgund road and Odura bridge have been completed at estimated cost of Rs 5.31 crore following damages to them due to 2014-floods.While reviewing power sector, it was said that with the upgradation of Kulgam grid station from 30 MVA to 70 MVA, power scenario in the district has greatly improved. In order to cut down the transmission and distribution losses Rs 4.03 crore have been approved to replace the worn out T&D network in the district. It was given out that un-electrified habitations of the district shall be covered under DDUGJY and supplied power accordingly.
During the meeting, the Board approved the annual district plan of Rs 134.59 crore for the year 2017-18. The Board approved the establishment of Divisional Workshop for repair of damaged transformers for which the DDC was directed to identify the land in a week’s time. Construction of Conference Hall, 6-suite Guest House, indoor stadium, SSP residence, vegetable clusters, Mahgund-Matalhama byepass road were approved by the board.To create avenues for the people, the Board agreed that establishment of Sheep Parks in every constituency shall be established to give a fillip to the rural economy.Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Haq impressed the officials of Horticulture Department to develop high density orchards in the district by providing the root-stock to the orchardists. Besides, he enjoined them to provide grafted walnut plants for upper Devsar and DH Pora belts.The Minister said that the Government is committed to provide funds to only those projects which have been technically approved and vetted by the Departments.He directed the officers to prioritise those schemes and projects which are near completion but linger on due to meagre funding so that they can be physically and financially completed.The chairman exhorted the officers to take the development on mission mode basis so that its fruition is cherished by the general public.On the occasion legislators sought the realignment in 33 KV Yaripora receiving station with Kulgam grid station. They also highlighted the need of augmenting strength of doctors and paramedics, besides completion of pending work of different PHCs in the district.