Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 29: Member Legislative Assembly Kathua Dr. Bharat Bhushan chaired an introductory meeting with District and Sectoral Officers of the Kathua administration.
The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Surinder Mohan; Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Ranjit Thakur; Superintending Engineer (SE) PWD (R&B); Chief Education Officer (CEO), XEns from different departments including PWD, Irrigation, Flood Control, and PDD, as well as other officials representing various departments.
CPO Kathua, Ranjit Thakur, provided a detailed briefing on the district’s development trajectory, outlining progress in implementing Government-led development and welfare schemes. He reported that 28% of the current year’s Capex Budget expenditure has been utilized, with the remaining projects being expedited following the recent Assembly elections.
The meeting focused on the status of projects funded under District CAPEX, including District Development Council (DDC), Block Development Council (BDC) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) grants. Officers from departments such as Public Health Engineering (PHE), Public Works Department (PWD), Rural Development Department (RDD), Irrigation, Flood Control, Handicrafts & Handloom, District Industries Centre (DIC), Employment, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Social Welfare, ICDS, DUDA, and Health provided updates on various ongoing initiatives.
MLA emphasized the need for a compassionate approach in addressing the issues of marginalized communities and ensuring that welfare schemes reach the most vulnerable residents. He urged officials to extend the benefits of welfare programs to those engaged in the unorganized sectors by implementing Labour and Employment schemes.
Dr. Bhushan also advocated for advancing success in Agriculture and allied sectors, suggesting that insights from progressive farmers be shared to inspire more involvement in these sectors. He called for establishing forums where progressive farmers can motivate others to adopt innovative practices.
Addressing sanitation concerns, Dr. Bhushan took note of litter accumulation in Kathua Canal and specific locations within Kathua town. He directed MC Kathua and the Irrigation Department to install warning signs along the canal, alerting residents to the risks of clogged waterways. Additionally, he instructed MC Kathua and XEn Irrigation to impose penalties on individuals caught dumping litter in the canal and urged for the development of a sustainable cleanliness mechanism for Kathua town.
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