Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Oct 23:- Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan laid the foundation stone of a Foot Bridge, at Panchayat Hartyan, as a part of Project “Rahat” initiated by district administration for construction of 110 foot bridges for schools, remote hamlets, livestock routes, ration supply lines and other unconnected habitations in the Udhampur district.
Speaking on the occasion, Haq Khan lauded the innovative planning and resource mobilisation by district administration for such a mammoth project which will be a boon for more than 20,000 students of 150 odd schools in district besides benefitting more than 1.60 lakh populations directly in many ways. He assured financial support to the project from Rural Development Department. “Project Rahat apart from providing connectivity to students, saving lives, safe mobility, securing livestock and ensuring timely transportation of ration, will also provide employment to more than 5000 skilled and unskilled persons”, he added.
The Minister also facilitated the sarpanches of Panchayats East Mand and Sarar for getting Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar for their innovative and best practices in Panchayati Raj from Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Cash rewards were also given to two VLW of these panchayats for their extra ordinary work.
Minister of State for Finance and IT, Pawan Kumar Gupta and MLA Ramnagar R S Pathania accompanied the minister and expressed their views on the achievements enshrined under Project Rahat.
District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary gave a resume of Project Rahat aimed at construction of around 150 bridges out of which 110 are being constructed in 2015-16 in convergence of MGNREGA with DIF, Untied Grants, CSR, MPLADS, MLA-CDF, SCA and other contributions for gap funding to maintain the mandatory 60:40 ratio of labour and material. Concrete, Wooden and Steel bridges are being constructed to facilitate education, secure livelihood, security of life and supply of essentials as these areas are affected due to flooding of small rivulets with huge catchment area which leads to many death, livestock perishing and poor attendance in schools during rainy season every year. The DDC thanked the MP and MLAs for their generous contribution and called upon PSUs, Departments, Media Houses, and other agencies for sponsoring gap funding.
Member Parliament and Union MoS Dr Jitendra Singh has contributed Rs 25 lakhs, Minister of State for Finance and IT Pawan Gupta Rs 15 lakh out of their MPLAD and CDF respectively as gap funding of around 20 bridges. Likewise, DDC has received Rs 60 lakhs from various sources as gap funding of around 26 other bridges. The project is based on public participation in planning, resource mobilisation, execution and maintenance.
DRDO Spin-off technology is being used for pre-fabricated steel bridges for ensuring cost-effectiveness and longevity of infrastructure apart from savings on maintenance.
ACD, Udhampur presented vote of thanks while proceedings were conducted by District Panchayat Officer Sukrirti Sharma besides Project Officer DRDA Dr Jagdish Mehra coordinated the arrangements.
Among others, SSP Udhampur, Suleiman Choudhary, Director RDD, Jammu, M.L. Raina, ADDC Arvind Sharma, ADC Angrez Singh Rana, CPO Rakesh Jamwal, all district officers, sarpanches, panches and prominent citizens, large number of locals were also present on the occasion.
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