The District Development Board (DDB) Rajouri that met under the Chairmanship of Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today approved an annual plan of Rs 205.01 crore for the district.Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, Minister for Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli, Vice Chairman J&K State Pahari Advisory Board, Kuldeep Raj Gupta, Vice Chairman OBC Board Rash Paul Verma, Legislators, Ravinder Raina, Qamar Hussain, Vibod Gupta, Surinder Choudhary, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Heads of various Departments and other Senior Officers were present in the meeting.The Chairman took a comprehensive review of the implementation of the decisions taken in the last DDB meeting. He directed for evolving effective mechanism for the implementation of all the decisions in letter and spirit so that benefits percolate down to the grassroots level. He emphasized on generating mass awareness regarding Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) especially in rural and far-flung areas so that the benefits of such schemes reach to targeted population.
Taking sector and scheme-wise review of the works done in the district, Mr Hanjura directed the concerned executing agencies to expedite the works on all projects. Reviewing the Health sector, the Minister directed the concerned to expedite the construction work on all ongoing and new hospital buildings in the district.The Minister was informed that construction of Government Medical College Rajouri is apace at a cost of Rs 139 crore. The Minister instructed the concerned officers to ensure quality work and completion within a stipulated time frame. It was decided by the board that a separate meeting would be held with the top functionaries of Health and Medical Education Department soon in Jammu to discuss the important issues related to the health sector. The Board asked the DDC to prepare agenda in this regard.Responding to various issues projected in the meeting, including public complaints regarding excessive power tariff bills, the Board decided to constitute a Committee to assess and report on the issue to the concerned quarter for further scrutiny and appropriate redressal.
Stressing on early commissioning of Abdullah Bridge, Mr Hanjura impressed upon the officers that the approach road to the Bridge for which Rs 20 lakhs were released during 2016-17 be taken up on priority.It was informed in the meeting that Rajouri Development Authority has formulated six projects including Rs 38.43 crore Eco-Tourism Park project proposed at Patli Qila and submitted to the Government for approval and funds. The Minister stressed upon the concerned agencies to pursue the proposals vigorously so that the construction work on these projects was started at an earliest.The Chairman expressed satisfaction over the performance of the district administration in the optimal utilization of the available funds. He exhorted upon the officers to put in more dedicated efforts and work with utmost zeal to complete the ongoing projects and get the new proposals through. He said the responsibility to follow the proposals sent for approval solely lies with the officers. Mr Hanjura directed the district administration to involve the local representatives before formulating any developmental project. He also asked them to implement the decisions taken in previous DDB meetings in letter and spirit.
The Minister said that the development of the State is the main agenda of the present Government and Rajouri is no exception. He said that the former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s vision was to make Rajouri a model district.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali directed the concerned to expedite the construction work on all ongoing developmental works in the district and complete them in a stipulated time frame. He also instructed the district administration to make officials responsible for implementing various welfare schemes and programmes. He stressed on conducting frequent field visits for ensuring smooth implementation of the ongoing works. He also called for laying special focus on areas with tough terrain, and geographical disadvantage due to which these have remained backward. In this regard he particularly mentioned Darhal-Budhal Constituency. Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Mr. Abdul Ghani Kholi asked the district administration to ensure effective implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes so that the deserving people get the benefits.Local representatives raised various issues and put forth the demands of their respective constituencies to which the Chairman gave a patient hearing and assured to address these in shortest possible time.Earlier, the DDC briefed the meeting about physical and financial achievements of different departments in the district. He informed the meeting that against an approved out lay of Rs197.33 crore for the year 2016-2017, an amount of Rs 138.52 crore was made available and Rs 133.50 crore have been spent on approved schemes till ending February, 2017.