Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today chaired a review meeting with officers of the Jal Shakti and Forest, Ecology & Environment Departments at Bari Brahmana, Samba. He directed them to ensure prompt redressal of public grievances and time-bound resolution of issues affecting the people.
The Minister stressed that public welfare remains the foremost priority of the government. He called upon officers to adopt a proactive, responsive and accountable approach in addressing the people's concerns. He emphasised that no public grievance should remain unaddressed and directed the departments to put in place robust mechanisms for tracking and resolving complaints at the field level.
Rana underscored that officers must remain accessible to the public and delays in service delivery would not be tolerated. On matters pertaining to the Jal Shakti Department, the Minister directed the officers to ensure uninterrupted supply of clean drinking water across all habitations in the district, with special attention to rural and remote areas where infrastructure gaps continue to affect service delivery.
He called for expeditious completion of pending water supply schemes and directed that dysfunctional pipelines, handpumps and distribution networks be repaired and restored on priority. Regarding the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, Rana directed officers to ensure effective implementation of ongoing green initiatives, expedite the resolution of pending forest rights cases and maintain close coordination with the revenue and tribal affairs authorities to address the issues faced by forest-dependent communities.
He reiterated that ecological conservation and community welfare must go hand in hand. Evaluating the district's developmental roadmap with special emphasis on critical infrastructure projects and public welfare initiatives, the Minister directed the officers to expedite project implementation and ensure that tendering, approvals and on-ground execution are completed in a swift and time-bound manner.
He made clear that achieving set targets within stipulated timelines is non-negotiable and that quality and transparency must not be compromised at any stage. The Minister emphasised the need for enhanced inter-departmental coordination and directed officers to conduct regular field visits to assess ground realities and ensure that government schemes and programmes are reaching their intended beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Minister held a public interaction programme at Bari Brahmana, listening to grievances and developmental concerns raised by the local residents and public representatives from different areas of the district. The delegations highlighted issues related to drinking water supply, pending forest rights claims, employment, infrastructure development and access to basic amenities.
Rana assured the delegations that all representations received would be forwarded to the concerned departments for time-bound redressal. While addressing the delegations, Javed Rana reiterated the Omar Abdullah-led Government's commitment towards equitable and inclusive development of all regions.
"The present Government is focused on strengthening public service delivery and ensuring that the benefits of welfare and developmental schemes reach every deserving household of Jammu and Kashmir," Rana asserted.