Excelsior Correspondent
KUPWARA, May 19: Flagging health and road connectivity as critical sectors of concern in rural areas, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today fixed deadlines for completion of ongoing infrastructural projects so that these are completed at the earliest and benefits percolate down to people.
He said that Government will ensure that ration is distributed amongst people as per the Census of 2011, a matter he had forcefully taken up with the Central Government.
The Chief Minister said this while taking firsthand review of developmental works in Kupwara district, during which he sanctioned funds and fixed deadlines for completion of projects in Langate, Handwara, Kupwara and Sogam areas.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Ch. Lal Singh, Minister for Rural Development, Abdul Haq Khan, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Sajad Gani Lone, MP, Fayaz Ahmad, MLA Langate, Er. Rashid, MLA Tangdhar, Raja Manzoor, MLC, Qaiser Jamshed Lone and former Minister G. A. Sofi were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Tourist Interpretation Centre at Chotipora, Langate which has been constructed at a cost of Rs.1.25 crore. The Interpretation Centre has been sanctioned under the Tourism Department’s Scheme for Development of Circuits and Destinations.
While inspecting Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Langate, Mufti Sayeed released Rs.1 crore and fixed August 30 this year as deadline for making it functional. The work on 60-bedded SDH was started in 2008-09 and so far Rs.3.48 crore have been spent on the project.
The Chief Minister also released Rs.1 crore for completion of Emergency Block and Rs. 50 lakh for tress-roofing of SDH Sogam for making it functional by July 19 this year. The 60-bedded hospital, being constructed by JKPCC at a cost of Rs.20.60 crore, is awaiting completion since 2007.
Minister for Health & Medical Education informed the Chief Minister that several specialist doctors have been posted in district Kupwara to cater to the healthcare needs of the people.
The Chief Minister said he is determined to fill all vacancies in the Government sector so that required staff is deployed to make the institutions fully functional.
While reviewing pace of work on Bus Stand, Handwara, the Chief Minister asked Housing & Urban Development Department to release Rs.1 crore to PWD to make it functional. He also passed directions for making Handwara Bypass Road operational so that the main town is de-congested from heavy vehicular traffic.
Being constructed on 77.5 kanal of land, the work on the project started way back in 2008-09 at a cost of Rs. 15.50 crore, out of which Rs.2.35 crore have been released and expended.
Mufti Sayeed also released Rs.1 crore for making Bus Stand Kupwara functional. He instructed Director, ULBs and Chief Engineer, R&B, to coordinate and work out modalities so that the common facility, which is in suspended animation for a pretty long time, is made operational. The bus stand is being constructed by ULBs at a cost of Rs.11.47 crore, out of which Rs. 3.89 crore stand released for land compensation and development.
Mufti Sayeed also passed instructions to make bus-stands self-sustainable assets by exploring construction of shopping line, restaurants and public conveniences around the main facility.
The Chief Minister also inspected under-construction Water Storage Reservoir at Hapathnar, in Sogam, which is expected to irrigate large tracts of land in Lalpora, Gundmacher, Rednag, Tikipora and Hayatpora villages bringing succour to the farmers. He fixed deadline of November 19 this year for Chief Engineer, I&FC, Kashmir, to complete the project.
Mufti Sayeed also announced Rs.1 crore to PWD for completion of Vodhpora Bridge, being constructed over river Puhroo in Handwara. The Chief Engineer, R&B, assured the Chief Minister that the bridge will be made operational within the next three months.
The Chief Minister also released Rs. 50 lakh for completion of work on Children’s Park, Handwara, so that a recreational facility is created for the people.
The Chief Minister took a serious note of tardy pace of work on completion of Zangli Bridge, which is being executed by JKPCC. He fixed deadline of 30th July this year for completion of the project.
Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Vinod Ranjan, Director Tourism & MD JKTDC, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Rural Development, Kashmir, Tasaduq Jeelani, Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, Satish Razdan and Chief Engineer, I&FC, Kashmir, Javed Jaffar, were also present on the occasion.
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