Bhalla inspects development works

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 9: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla, today said that Government is according focussed attention on development of rural areas at par with urban pockets in providing better civic amenities.
This was stated by the Minister after laying foundation stone of additional accommodation at Government High School Shergarh, here today.
Chief Education Officer, Natha Ram Dingra, Executive Engineer D K Rampal besides other senior officers of R&B, PHE, PDD, School Education and RDD accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Bhalla said Government has earmarked Rs. 24 lakh for construction of 4-room, one varandha including two toilet blocks in the school.
Elaborating on importance of education in today’s competitive world, the Minister stressed on the need of ensuring maximum enrolment of children in schools. In this regard, he directed the school authorities to create awareness in rural and far off areas about the significance of education for their wards. He said Government has directed the School Education Department to conduct door-to-door survey to identify the children who are not enrolled in schools. He also asked them to ascertain the reasons behind this injustice to the unfortunate children.
Responding to locals’ demand, the Minister announced Rs. 10 lakh for multipurpose community hall at Shergarh. He asked R&B to prepare this project at the earliest so that the hall could be dedicated to the people within next six months. He said Government has earmarked Rs. 1.50 crore for construction of double lane bridge at Rohi village, adding that the project is in progress.
At Dharp village, Mr. Bhalla kick started construction work of link road, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 21 lakh. He asked the executing agency to complete the project well before the start of monsoon. He said that an effective monitoring mechanism has been put in place to enforce accountability and transparency in implementation of developmental schemes. He also underlined the need for public involvement in the developmental activities and said that without their cooperation the objective of the Government of taking state’s development tempo to new highs cannot be achieved.
At Narwal Pain, the Minister launched construction work of 300-meter long deep drain, for which Government has released Rs. 12 lakh. He also inspected the construction work of 1-km long recreation park along Ranbir canal. He asked the executing agency to immediately add the facilities of illumination, irrigation, landscaping and walkway in place.
Later, Mr. Bhalla visited Gangyal and inspected ongoing modernization work of box type culvert over Gangyal nallah, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 2 crore under State plan. He asked the executing agency to immediately remove the garbage from the choked portion of the nallah holes so that the people do not face any inconvenience due to stagnation of foul nallah water in the locality.
The Minister said Rs. 1.6 crore have been sanctioned for development of recreation park at Gangyal, adding that work on it would be completed within stipulated time.