Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 31: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today conducted an inspection tour and reviewed J&K’s first – ever “border area toilets” project, the work on which was started two weeks ago in collaboration with “Sulabh Shauchalaya”.
Under the project, 1120 toilets are to be constructed in first phase at a cost of Rs. 4.4 crore along the International Border (IB) from Zero line to 500 meters and so. The first phase of the construction work has been undertaken from Marheen Block in Tehsil Hira Nagar. All these would be individual toilets for each house. A distinct feature of each of these toilets would be that in addition it would also serve as a source of natural manure and biogas fuel.
Pertinent to mention that soon after his election as Member of Parliament from the constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh had represented before the then Union Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari the urgency to construct toilets in border area, particularly in the interest of women, because while in other parts of the country women had the option to go outdoors for toilet during night hour, in the border areas this opportunity was not available because of the intermittent firing from across the border.
Speaking to media persons, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the other major demand of border area people was construction of bunkers near the IB which has also been fulfilled and the work on it has also begun.
In the next three years, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Kathua will come up as a model district (Adarsh Zila) which others will come to witness and emulate. He said, Kathua is the nodal district of the Lok Sabha constituency and it will emerge as an example for others to follow.
Enumerating some of the major landmark initiatives undertaken in district Kathua during the last one-and-a-half year of his MP term, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to Aarogya Gram Yojana, which has been launched in the State of J&K first time from district Kathua at a budget of Rs 10 crore.
Similarly, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the first ever Bio-tech park in the region which is to come up at Gati at the cost of around Rs. 100 crore. 100% rural electrification target under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (DDUJJY) will also be achieved in district Kathua by March 2017, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh also disclosed that the tender offer for Keediyan-Gadiyal bridge has already been initiated and the Basohli “Atal Setu” Bridge is already inaugurated. Both these bridges will be game-changers for not only the State of J&K, but for three States J&K, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the form of generating revenue,tourism,trade and employment avenues.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to three Community Halls to be built up from his MP-LAD fund at Billawar, Mandi and Galak, respectively. Similarly, three class rooms are to be built up from his MP-LAD fund at the High School at Bani.
Referring to peripheral areas of Machhedi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there was a common grievance that no elected representative or officer from Administration paid a visit. Not only the grievances of the area were heard, but one examination hall was also sanctioned for the school there at the cost of Rs.10 lakh, he informed.
In addition, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Kathua will be one of the first districts in the country to be included in “Nanaji Deshmukh Jal Surakshan Yojana” at the cost of Rs. 25 lakh to be announced soon. This, he said, will be a great boost considering the fact that Kathua district was bestowed with several lakes and water resources.
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