Gear up efforts to ensure better public amenities: Bhalla

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 23: Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla has asked the officers to gear up men and machinery to ensure better public amenities across the State particularly safe drinking water, regular power supply, irrigation, education, health, road connectivity besides better lanes and drains.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the officers during the tour to Qasim Nagar, Sunjwan and Nanak Nagar Sector-3 after assessing development related problems of these areas, here today.
Officers from Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Power Development Department (PDD) accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Bhalla called upon the people to cooperate with the executing agencies in developing the localities with modern line civic amenities. He said Government was on a job to meet the aspirations of the people across the State, adding that there is no constraint of funds.
Responding to the Qasim Nagar people demands, the Minister asked the JMC, UEED, PDD and PHE officers to gear up their men and machinery to complete the ongoing development works within stipulated time frame in the area. He said Government has approved Rs. 70 lakh for construction of multipurpose community hall at the available site at Qasim Nagar near Bahu Fort. He said that inhabitants will be  able to organise their social as well as religious functions on nominal fee.
Regarding replacing of worn out wires in the Qasim Nagar, Mr. Bhalla asked the PDD officers to immediately remove and install  fresh wires so that people do not face any inconvenience. He called upon the people to use power judiciously during peak hours and refrain from  illegal hooking.
The Minister asked the R&B Department to prepare estimates for construction of light motor vehicle road from Qasim Nagar to Rajiv Nagar and submit the same for funding so that the construction work on the project could be initiated.
Mr. Bhalla said the Government has launched number of welfare schemes to upgrade the living standard of the poor lot, which include Indira Awas Yojna, (IAY) Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP), NRHM, PMGSY, MGNREGA etc. He asked the people to avail the benefits of such  schemes.