Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD), Prashant Goyal today visited Kishtwar and presided over Public Darbar at Conference Hall, DC Office Complex here. During the darbar, the Principal Secretary took stock of public grievances and development activities in the district.
Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav; SSP Kishtwar Khalil Ahmed Poswal and other district officers were present on the occasion. President Municipal Council Sajjad Najjar; BDCs, DDCs, PRIs besides social activists and locals also attended the Public Darbar.
During the event, an open discussion was held wherein PRIs and general public presented their demands and grievances for speedy disposal. The Public Darbar witnessed overwhelming response from the public during which people apprised the Principal Secretary about their developmental issues and demands by seeking his intervention in redressing the same.
Addressing the gathering, Prashant Goyal stressed on public service delivery with accountability and transparency in a time bound manner while asking officers and PRIs to contribute towards society’s growth and development. He said that main aim of conducting Public Darbar is to have a convergent bridge between the administration and the people, adding that the theme of Public Darbar is administration at door step.
Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Secretary emphasized on prioritizing feasible projects to ensure their timely and unhindered completion. He instructed the PWD authorities to expedite road construction and take strict measures against contractors who cause delays. The Principal Secretary further highlighted the importance of implementing appropriate student-teacher ratios in schools and conducting regular teacher evaluations to improve educational efficiency.
During the darbar, a delegation of Municipal councillors raised concerns regarding staffing shortages within the Municipality, inadequate drainage systems, inefficient Solid Waste Management, prompt construction of the Slaughter House in town, and necessity to widen the road from Malipeth to DC Office Kishtwar.
Similarly, DDC member Palmar highlighted grievances related to roads in Palmar and Dool areas and presented various demands on behalf of the people of Palmar. Likewise, DDC Bounjwah emphasized the need for upgrading PHC Nali Bonjwah and dedicated Ambulance to Bonjwah, addressing staff shortages in schools, upgrading to Higher Secondary level at Patnazi, installing Bank ATMs, and other demands.
DDC member Drabshalla raised road issues and called for initiatives to promote Bimal Nag as a tourist attraction. Similarly, a delegation of prominent personalities urged the acceleration of the Rattan Nag Multipurpose Project and advocated for constructing Asrariya House/Inn for patients and attendants from Kishtwar in Doda.
Likewise, DDC Drabshalla B, Sarpanch Thakrie, Sarpanch Sigdi B, BDC Kishtwar and other PRI representatives raised issues and demands of their respective areas with the Principal Secretary. A delegation of Beopar Mandal and Transport Union also expressed their concerns, issues, and demands with the Principal Secretary.
While taking cognizance of the grievances raised by the general public, Principal Secretary said that all grievances will be taken up with the concerned quarters for timely and early action. He issued on spot directions to the concerned officers to look into all the issues projected by the delegations and the individuals and initiate action for early redressal of the same.
The Principal Secretary gave directions to the concerned officers to personally visit the places and find solutions to the problems for the benefit of public good. He also directed the concerned HoDs to popularise the initiatives and schemes of the government so that more and more people get benefitted. Principal Secretary assured prompt resolution of ambulance-related issues by engaging with the relevant authorities.
The delegations expressed satisfaction over the outreach programme and said this provides them an opportunity to voice their grievances and for the government to expedite the resolution through the appropriate channels. Meanwhile, DC Kishtwar apprised the Principal Secretary about the progress in the resolution of these issues besides threw light on some hindrances impeding the pace of developmental projects including road, water, drainage etc in the district & in the Town.
He highlighted that the district administration is committed towards ensuring completion of developmental projects of the area in a time bound manner. He said all the directions and suggestions have been duly recorded and will be adhered to.