Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Malik today chaired a meeting of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Trust to review the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) and to ensure the effective and transparent utilization of the District Mineral Fund for the development of mining-affected areas.
Detailed discussions were held on proposed interventions and planned expenditures under the scheme. A major focus of the meeting was on addressing the pressing need of water supply augmentation amid rising temperatures.
The DC approved a crucial plan to repair 138 defunct handpumps across the district, recognizing this as a priority to ensure community members have reliable water access during the hot summer months.
Emphasizing the need to maximize public benefit, DC Nidhi Malik directed to exclude the proposals for the installation of personal handpumps from the plan. She stressed that DMF funds should be allocated for community-oriented projects that serve the larger population, rather than installations that benefit only a few individuals.
The Deputy Commissioner also instructed the Executive Engineers (XENs) to carry out all works with a strong focus on quality and financial prudence. To enhance transparency and accountability, it was decided that the installation of each handpump be physically verified by the respective Block Development Officer.
The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer Narinder Gupta, SE PWD, DSWO, Divisional Forest Officer Reasi, Chief Education Officer and other concerned officers.