*Directs regular field visits by officers
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Oct 14: Further deepening her massive public outreach programme, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today visited Ramban to convene public grievances redressal camp in which scores of deputations and hundreds of people from the hilly and cut off areas of the district apprised her of their problems.
The deputations came from the most hilly and far flung areas and raised issues like supply of drinking water, road connectivity, tourism development, upgradation of health and educational facilities and other related demands. They demanded that local youth be engaged by the companies working on mega projects in the district and taking of initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by these companies in their catchment areas.
Legislators, Neelam Kumar Langeh; Vikar Rasool Wani and Shyam Lal Bhagat were present on the occasion.
Many deputations from Batote sought setting up of a Kendriya Vidyala in the town besides opening up of a women’s college and development of tourism, particularly water sports in the area. They also demanded connecting Batote with Patnitop-Sudhmahadev ropeway to give the local tourism a boost.
The deputations also demanded posting of adequate staff at the local hospital, development of a modern sanatorium at Batote in view of the climate, availability of veterinarians, development of horticulture and extension of paying guest scheme in tourism to the town. A deputation of contractors sought release of payments of flood restoration works done in the area.
A deputation from Sanasar sought improvement of Patnitop-Sanasar road, development of Sanasar tourist spot and opening of a bank branch besides posting of adequate staff at the local schools.
Deputations from Gool sought pacing up of work at the local Degree College, opening of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in the town, strengthening of the local hospital, opening of JK Bank at Dharam and Ind. They also sought upgradation of Budhal-Ramban road besides improving facilities at Tatapani, Sangaldan in view of the tourist rush.
A deputation of District Bar Association sought improvement in the Banihal-Ramban stretch of National Highway, upgradation of judicial infrastructure at the district headquarters, setting up of a district jail and construction of a bridge over river Chenab in the town. They also sought operationalization of the local trauma hospital and making the consumer court in the town functional.
A deputation of Ramban Beopar Mandal sought approval for the water supply augmentation project for the town, making more power available from the Bhagliar power project and setting up of a Girls Higher Secondary School at Maitra.
Many deputations from Mahu Mangat area sought upgradation of Gingni-Chakka and Magerkote-Dardehi roads besides relocation of a local army camp at Nachlana. They also demanded carving out a hydraulic division at Ramsoo and completion of work on the Dak Bungalow, Mahu.
A deputation from Kastigarh sought start of work on the Surnikund Water Supply Scheme besides completion of Kabaddi-Thalwa road.
Deputations from Rajgarh area sought construction of road from Samthi to Banjar More to connect it with Kastigarh road besides connectivity among all panchayats of the area. They also sought construction of road from Zangaldam to Galadhar, upgradation of health facilities and tapping the hydel potential of the area.
The Chief Minister, on spot, directed construction of road from Samthi to Banjar More and augmentation of health facilities in the area.
Mehbooba Mufti assured the deputations to look into their demands and take appropriate action. In many cases the Chief Minister gave on spot directions for the redressal of the problems. She directed start of work on the Dak Bungalow, Ramban and preparation of contour maps for the same.
The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to make a survey of the schools in the district which need some additionalities for completion and operationalization. She also directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to ensure that the district officers tour the far flung areas regularly, meet the people and assess their development needs.
Mehbooba Mufti also directed release of Rs. 25 lakh for setting up a transformer bank in the district to be used during winters. She also directed identification of land for setting up Gujjar & Bakerwal Hostels at Banihal and Ramban. Besides, Mehbooba Mufti also directed establishment of a Blood Bank and exploring the possibility of setting up a small ICU at the Banihal hospital in view of the high rate of accidents on the National Highway.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; senior officers from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Planning Department; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, M K Bhandari; IGP, Jammu zone, SDS Jamwal; heads of several departments; chiefs of many engineering wings; Deputy Commissioner, Tariq Hussain Ganaie and officers of district administration were present on the occasion.
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