Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 20: A day after conducting her Public Outreach Programme at Samba, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti visited Kathua and convened a grievances redressal camp here today.
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During the camp the Chief Minister listened to scores of deputations and hundreds of people who apprised her of their developmental needs and sought their redressal.
Minister for Forests, Environment & Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh and legislators of the district were present on the occasion.
The deputations thanked the Chief Minister for reaching out to people to know their developmental needs and addressing them on the spot.
The demands put forth by the deputations during the day long programme included improvement in drinking water and irrigation facilities in the district particularly in Kandi areas, launch of a special employment drive for the people of border areas, start of work on Panjtirthi multipurpose project, drug de addiction, special recruitment drive for border people, check on industrial pollution, construction of flyovers and an auditorium in the town and solid waste management plant in the town.
A deputation of people from Kathua town sought removal of junk from the local Railway Station. They also demanded construction of road from Govindsar station to Kharote and upgradation of local Girls Primary School. They also demanded that the share of local people in the Ranjit Sagar Dam be released to them from the Punjab Government. They also sought early construction of Ravi Canal, ban on material extraction from the canal and pacing up of work on the local Medical College.
Deputations of people from Bathind, Jakole and other areas of Kandi belt complained of shortage in drinking water and irrigation facilities.
Several deputations from Billawar also sought augmentation of irrigation schemes in villages of Dramin, Palam and other villages. They also sought improvement in the power distribution in the area besides release of pending payments of SDRF and NREGA. A deputation of people from Gudu Fulail sought rationalisation of administrative units and opening of a CAPD sale outlet there.
The Chief Minister directed release of Rs. 50 lakh for replacement and upgradation of machinery equipment of lift irrigation and drinking water schemes in the area.
Deputations from various villages of Bani sought construction of tourist huts at Daggar, conceiving micro hydel projects on Khag and Sevanallas, establishment of a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Bani, upgradation of Bhandar and Sagrota High Schools to Higher Secondary level, completion of work on the Manjeeri Park in the town and upgradation of Bani High School to Higher Secondary School and completion of the Gujjar Bakerwal hostel at Bani.
Deputations from Lohai Malhar area of Bani sought construction of additional accommodation at the local High School.
The Chief Minister announced immediate release of Rs. 50 lakh for completing work on the Gujjar Bakerwal hostel at Bani. She also announced release of Rs. 60 lakh for raising additional accommodation at the High School, LohaiMalhar.
A deputation of Gujjar &Bakerwal community sought setting up of a cattle mandi in the district besides activating the Wool Board. They demanded conduct of a survey of tribal population in the State besides setting up tribal schools in their habitations and extension of BPL concessions to them.
Deputations from Hiranagar sought posting of adequate staff at local health centre and PHC at Koota. They also demanded posting of an Additional Deputy Commissioner for pacing up development activities in the area besides compensation for the land occupied by Army and other security establishments and construction of bunkers for the border people. They also demanded augmentation of drinking water and power supply.
The Chief Minister directed enforcement of complete ban on extraction of material from river basins and slapping of PSA against people found involved in drug peddling. She also announced release of Rs. 20 lakh in favour of Municipal Committee, Kathua for strengthening civic infrastructure in the town. She also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua to launch an anti-encroachment drive on rivers, canals, water bodies and other public places.
The Chief Minister also announced release of Rs 30 lakh for creating a transformer bank in the district to stabilize power distribution network in the district.
A deputation of people from Basohli sought completion of work on the receiving station at Sheetal Nagar, improvement in drinking water facility and making the Basohli Development Authority functional.
The Chief Minister listened to the demands of the deputations throughout the day and it continued till late in the evening. In many of the cases Mehbooba Mufti gave on spot directions for the redressal of the grievances which was hailed by the deputationists.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. M K Bhandari; IGP Jammu zone, Dr. SDS Jamwal; senior officers from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Planning Department; heads of several Departments; chiefs of many Engineering wings; DIG, SKR, Rafeequl Hassan; Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, SSP, and officers of district administration were present on the occasion.
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