Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today asked the Rural Development Department to undertake conservation, cleaning and restoration of water sources in villages like streams, ponds and wells. She asked the Department to take other steps to restore the rural ecology as well besides their routine job of rural development.Addressing a function here after inaugurating 159 assets of the Rural Development Department today, the Chief Minister flagged the need for preserving rural assets and ecology in its most pristine and original form. She said our rural areas were once considered rich sources of clean drinking water but now with increased pollution these sources have depleted to very low levels.Mehbooba Mufti advised the Department to dove tail its restoration efforts with the local public representatives to take it in a mission mode. She complimented the Department for running such successful schemes like MGNREGA and raising quality assets. She asked for proper upkeep and maintenance of these assets so as to enjoy their benefits for a longer period.
Terming Rural Development Department as most closely linked institution with people, Mehbooba Mufti asked the officers to work with dedication and honesty to deliver services to people. “You are doing a lot for changing the rural landscape in the State. But a stray complaint of corruption or sub standard work has a telling effect on the image of your Department”, she told the officers and employees of the Department.Terming corruption as a scourge, the Chief Minister said history is witness that it has never done any good to the person indulging in it but put him in despair in the long run. On the contrary, she said, the people doing their jobs with sincerity, selflessly and dedicatedly make not only the concerned people happy but also the Almighty and in the process earning huge goodwill for themselves and their progeny for times to come.Minister for Rural Development Department, Abdul Haq Khan in his address gave an overview of the activities of his Department. He said MGNREGA has attained an unparallel social acceptability in rural society with quality assets having been raised under the programme. He said women’s involvement in the programmes of the Department has been maximum among all welfare schemes of the Government.Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Nirmal Sharma also addressed the gathering. In all today, the Chief Minister inaugurated 159 assets of the Department today valuing Rs. 30.85 crore. These assets include Panchayat Ghars, common facility centres, culverts, bridges, roads, pavements, ponds, parks, toilets etc. The assets inaugurated today include 21 assets in Anantnag, 12 in ganderbal, 26 in Baramulla, 12 in Pulwama, five in Shopian, four in Kulgam, 30 in Kupwara, eight in Bandipore, 21 in Budgam, seven in Leh and 13 in Kargil district.