Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq, today asked officials of RDD to prefer traditional ways of construction and avoid concrete designs which are out of place and not in sync with vernacular architecture.The Minister made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review the functioning of the RDD. He was briefed that the Department was able to provide job to about 30411 job card holders and generate 6.07 lakh mandays under MGNREGA during the previous fiscal.Giving details, it was said that 1501 works were taken up under the MGNREGA, out of which 656 works were finalized and Rs 14.25 crore were spent, so far.The meeting was apprised that under MGNREGA, the Department has created durable assets which include construction of 463 Kilometer roads, 127 kilometer lanes, 22 culverts , 2 check dams, 13 wells for irrigation, Renovation of traditional water bodies, Land development of 44.17 hectares of agricultural land, and also includes 21 drainage works,Under IAY the Department has taken up 610 works during the last fiscal out of which 121 works were completed and Rs 60.34 lakhs were released for the same.
On the occasion, The Minister directed the officers to prioritize works on the basis of needs in villages. He urged officers to create durable assets in the villages under MGNREGA that will be beneficial for the people for a long time and would be sustainable.Lauding the role of the officers in implementing various state and centrally sponsored schemes, the Minister said the State has got one of the best Human Resource in the country and are doing a great job in bringing the Department at fore front on national level. He stressed on the officers to work selflessly to help the rural population in improving their socio-economic status.He said the roads are the key to development and that construction of roads and bridges under MGNREGA will help the rural population to develop further. He said the works done under Rural Development will blur the rural-urban divide as the facilities present in urban areas are being provided in the rural areas also.Announcing launch of Polythene-free village campaign from May 11, Abdul Haq said under the campaign villages will be made polythene free and the Department will not allow use of polythene in villages.He asked the officers to select a Panchayat in every block and start waste management project in the area on pilot basis so that same can be replicated in every Panchayat later. He asked them to use labour under MGNREGA to dispose waste besides constructing vermi-composts.The meeting was attended by DC Bandipora Sajjad Hussain Ganai, SP Bandipora, ACD Bandipora and other senior officials of the District.