Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today asked for conducting surveys for construction of roads to connect uncovered areas of Gurez.
Chairing a meeting to review the progress of R&B, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) projects in Gurez area, the Deputy Speaker said that there are many areas in the mountainous Tehsil which lack connectivity and people are deprived of development benefits.
He said as per Gover-nment’s commitment these areas should be covered by constructing roads to benefit the local populace.
Listing the areas lacking road connectivity, Gurezi asked R& B Department to conduct survey for connecting maximum habitations of Khandyal-Athwatoo and other major areas of the Tehsil.
“The road alignment should cross all major habitations so that maximum number of people is benefited by the proposed project, and this needs thorough survey”, he asserted.
About ongoing R&B works, it was informed that under State sector an amount of Rs 6.29 crore each has been incurred on 8 road and 8 bridge projects taken up in different parts of Gurez Tehsil. It was further informed that under Cities and Towns scheme, an amount of Rs 52 lakh has been expended on 8 works taken up in Gurez town.
Meanwhile, reviewing progress of ongoing water supply schemes in the area, the Deputy Speaker said that there is dire need to create a separate PHE Division for Gurez for early augmentation and coverage of water supply to the areas lacking the basic facility.
Among others present in the meeting were Commissioner Secretary, R&B Sanjeev Verma, Secretary, PHE, I&FC M Raju, Chief Engineer, PHE Kashmir, Chief Engineer Irrigation Kashmir, Chief Engineer, PMGSY and other senior officers of R&B, PHE, I&FC Departments.