Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 25: Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla today asked Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (JKHB) to gear up men and machinery to complete the Teacher Bhawan and fully air conditioned State of art auditorium at Gandhi Nagar by the end of July this year.
The Teacher Bhawan and auditorium is being constructed near Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar at an estimated cost of Rs 13 crore by JKHB.
Speaking after inaugurating renovated Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) complex at Gandhi Nagar, Bhalla said that the upcoming Teacher Bhawan would have a capacity to accommodate 50 persons, while the auditorium would have a seating capacity of 500 persons .
Commissioner JMC Kiran Wattal, Vice President BSG G A Qureshi, State Commissioner BSG I D Soni, Advisor BSG Sohail Kazmi, besides other senior representative of BSG were present on the occasion.
The Minister informed that on the completion of these state of art facilities, the schools of Gandhi Nagar and its adjoining areas would be able to organize their functions at 500-capacity fully air conditioned auditorium, while on the completion of 50-room capacity Teacher Bhawan, the teachers of other districts who would come to Jammu for their official work could get accommodation for stay on minimum charges.
Responding to demands of representatives of BSG, the Minister asked the authorities of Sports Council to install air conditioners in the newly renovated conference hall of Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG). He informed that Government has spent Rs 5 lakh for renovation of BSG building.
Earlier, the Minister visited Bilal Mohalla in Malik Market and Lower Gaddigarh and kick started construction work of local road including deep drain taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 lakh and 200 meter protection wall of Balol nallah at Lower Gaddigarh to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh.
The Minister informed that to prevent soil erosion of ‘bunds’ of nallah embankments and save the land of Primary Health Centre at Lower Gaddigarh the Government has earmarked Rs 20 lakh for construction of protection wall. He asked the Town Drainage Department to work in double shifts to ensure completion well before the start of rainy season so that the residents do not face any inconvenience due to flash floods in nallah.
Mr. Bhalla said that Government has also earmarked Rs. 85 lakh for construction of 200 meter nallah including slab. He said the project is under progress on war-footing and would be completed within stipulated time frame.
Later, the Minister also met several deputation of Jammu East, Jammu West, R S Pura, Suchetgarh, Kathua district, Udhampur district and Gandhi Nagar constituency and listened to their development demands .
Most of the projected problems were solved on-the spot and remaining were referred to the concerned department for early disposal.
Follow our WhatsApp channel