Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla today distributed cheques amounting Rs. 1 lakh each to BPL beneficiaries, as first installment, under Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP). The total amount to be provided under the scheme is 2, 75,000.
The Minister informed that 336 flats would be constructed at Sunjwan which would be allotted to the deserving lot after proper verification. He said that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh are taking keen interest and providing liberal funding for this project which has been launched only in J&K for welfare of BPL and urban poor people. He urged upon the people to ensure that all their required documents are complete so that they can get optimum benefit of State and Centrally sponsored welfare schemes like Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and Rajiv Awas Yojana.
He asked the officers concerned to release the other installment of the scheme to the beneficiaries at the earliest. He lauded the efforts of Municipal authorities in identifying the deserving people for implementation of schemes and disbursement of relief.
Meanwhile, the Minister visited Nanak Nagar and inaugurated construction work of lanes and drains in Sector 6. He asked the concerned officers to complete the work in time using quality material.
The Minister also conducted extensive tour of twin districts of Samba and Kathua to take stock of developmental activities of Horticulture sector. He visited both Government and private fruit nurseries and enquired about the scale of production and facilities being provided to the farmers by the Horticulture Department. At Samba, the Minister inspected high density plantation of mango, amla, strawberry plants taken up by the Horticulture Department. He also visited farm handling units, mechanization units like irrigation sources which include deep bore-wells, tube-wells etc provided to the fruit growers on subsidized rates at Purmandal More, Baeoi and Vijaypur.
Vijaypur, the Minister inspected Government Fruit Plant Nursery and was apprised that an income of Rs. 1,37000 was generated during the year 2012-13.
Similarly, the Minister also inspected various Government and private fruit nurseries which are being run by private orchards. He asked the farmers to use quality material for enhanced production.
At Kathua, the farmers putforth their demands which included adequate water and power supply for irrigation, cold store etc.
Later, the Minister visited Kathua fruit vegetable mandi and was informed that there is requirement of additional 30 kanal land for further improving the services in the mandi, for which, the indent has already moved by the department. He also visited Hiranagar and Chadwal fruit mandi sites and said that these will be made functional soon for the benefit of the farming community.
While interacting with the farmers, Bhalla assured them that Government will provide all possible help to the farming community.
Member Parliament, Ch. Lal Singh also spoke on the occasion and apprised the farmers of latest techniques and schemes launched by the department for welfare of the farmers. He underlined the need to implement food processing system and procurement of quality plants to enhance productivity.
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