Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary chaired the District Development Board review meeting to assess sector wise physical and financial progress here today. He also reviewed the progress of implementation of previous board decisions. Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia, MLA Bani Jeevan Lal, MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj, Vice Chairman OBC Board Rachhpal Verma, Vice Chairman SC Board Bhushan Dogra, Vice Chairman Gujjar Bakerwal Advisory Board Choudhary Zaffar Ali, MLC Balbir Singh, ADC Rashpal Singh and SSP Suleman Choudhary were also present in the meeting.The Additional Development Commissioner briefed the meeting about the physical and financial progress achieved under different schemes in the district. He also presented sector-wise physical and financial progress under PHE, PDD, PWD, PMGSY, Education and Health besides schemes/programmes under MGNREGA, PMAY, Health, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Horticulture, Fisheries sectors were also discussed in detail. He further apprised the meeting that 68.42% of expenditure has been made from the available funds till October, 31st 2017.Sham Lal Choudhary who is the Chairman of the Board called for early completion of projects where funds have been sanctioned. He stressed upon the executing agencies to prioritize works of different departments already approved under CAPEX budget adding that the respective MLAs should be taken on board while taking up new works in their constituencies and give due consideration to the projected development needs of the area . The pending projects shall be taken up on priority so that the benefit of respective schemes shall reach the beneficiaries at the earliest, he added.The chairman also called for explanation of all the Head of the Departments who were unauthorizedly absent from the review meeting. He also stressed on making expenditures as per the approved plan outlay.Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh called for full utilization of the available funds and completion of ongoing projects within stipulated time. He stressed for early completion of water supply schemes especially in hilly and far off areas. He impressed upon the PHE, PDD and PWD departments to make constituency wise comprehensive plan to meet the developmental needs so that benefits of the scheme reach the ultimate beneficiaries besides fixing the time frame for major projects. He also called for fresh survey for PMUY for increasing the coverage of this scheme.MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia highlighted the issues including parking locations in the town, shifting of DC office building, ISBT, Amusement Park, Mango village and making arrangement for funds under Capex Budget for establishing grain procurement centres at Kathua.MLA Hiranagar, Kuldeep Raj also projected issues including augmentation of receiving stations of PDD, mini secretariat at Hiranagar, upgradation of Hospital building, land compensation for border dwellers, early completion of 6 Tube Wells under NRDWP and completion of roads under PMGSY, GREF, CRF and PWD.MLA Bani, Jeevan lal apprised the meeting about pending works in his constituency including MGREGA liabilities, pending water supply schemes, High School building at Lohai, inadequate teaching staff, forest clearance for PMGSY roads including their joint inspection, outsourcing of tourism assets, less budgetary provision under Capex Budget and discrimination in 13 FC funding.Vice Chairperson State Advisory Board for the development of Gujjars and Bakerwal, Choudhary Zaffar Ali, called for the optimum utilization of Tribal Sub Plan and stressed for fresh census of the community so that benefits can be reaped from the targeted welfare schemes.Vice chairman State Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of OBCs. Rashpaul Verma demanded OBC hostel at every District and also highlighted several vacant key posts of Kathua District.Responding to the issues raised by legislators, the Chairman assured them for their redressal in time bound manner. Among others, HODs of various departments and concerned senior officers were present in the meeting.