Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Saturday undertook an extensive tour of the Marh constituency in Jammu district to assess the progress and impact of key developmental works being executed in the area.
Member of Legislative Assembly, Marh, Surinder Kumar, also participated in the on-site review and highlighted priority issues of the constituency, seeking intervention of the Administrative Department for resolution of important public matters.
The Secretary was accompanied by Director Panchayati Raj J&K, Sham Lal; Director RDD Jammu, Shehnaz Akhter; Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Jammu, Er. Danish Rasool Mir; Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACP) Jammu, Mukhtiyar Ahmed and Block Development Officer Marh, Kirandeep Kaur.
During the visit, the dignitaries inspected several completed works at the Bawa Talab Complex and reviewed projects executed under the UT CAPEX programme. Emphasising durability, quality and public utility, the Secretary directed the field functionaries to strictly adhere to prescribed standards, ensure transparency in execution and complete all sanctioned works within stipulated timelines.
The Secretary also inaugurated a Community Sanitation Complex at Jhiri Temple, Kalyanpur. He emphasised the importance of proper upkeep and maintenance of such facilities to sustain their long-term impact. He said the facility would significantly improve the sanitation and hygiene arrangements at the prominent religious site, catering to the needs of the devotees.
He also directed that beautification works at the Baba Jittoo Temple be taken up on priority. The Secretary also laid the foundation stone for Dewat Complex at Ganguchak Panchayat to be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹53.13 lakh. He observed that the project would substantially enhance the community infrastructure in the area.
He instructed the executing agencies to ensure timely completion without compromising on quality. Additionally, a newly constructed Panchayat Ghar at Panchayat Sari Rakhwalan, Marh, built at a cost of ₹30 lakh, was also inaugurated. The facility is expected to further improve the functioning of local self-governance.
Interacting with the local residents and former PRI representatives, the Secretary patiently listened to their concerns and suggestions related to ongoing and future development initiatives. He assured them that all the genuine public issues would be addressed on priority.
He directed the officers to remain accessible to the public, conduct regular field inspections and ensure that planning and execution reflect local needs. The MLA appreciated the coordinated efforts of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj departments.
He stated that such infrastructure projects are vital for improving the civic amenities and enhancing the overall quality of life in rural areas. The Secretary also conducted a comprehensive review of major projects being implemented under MGNREGA, PMAY-G, SBM-G, NRLM and RGSA.
He directed the officials to expedite execution, address bottlenecks at the grassroots level and ensure steady progress across all programmes for timely and effective service delivery.Stressing that works of public importance must be prioritised, the Secretary called for focused efforts to ensure that every eligible beneficiary receives rightful entitlements under the flagship rural development schemes.