Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 4: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today said that the current focus of the Government was to create basic amenities in rural pockets at par with urban centres, adding that in this regard several schemes have been launched across the state.
The Minister was addressing a large gathering after laying foundation stone of Multipurpose Community Hall at Bhour Pind, coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 9 lakh under CDF funding.
Mr. Bhalla said that after completion of the hall, the facility will help the villagers in arranging their wedding ceremony, religious and social functions at nominal charges. He said that the hall, with the facilities of kitchen, toilet block and lawn, being constructed over an area of 800 sq feet would be completed in three months.
The Minister asked the executing agency to use quality material in the construction, adding that the public money should be used to create durable assets and warned that wastage of the same will not be tolerated at any cost.
Listing the development works taken up in Bhour Pind and Bhour Kullian, the Minister said Rs. 50 lakh have been earmarked for construction of Cremation Ground at Bhour Kullian, adding that the project is under progress and would be completed within stipulated time frame. He said the Cremation Ground would be completed with the facilities of cremation shed, waiting shed with benches, bathing ghat (Tootian), drinking water storage reservoir, approach road, besides boundary wall.
Regarding construction of Bhour Pind and Bhour Camp interior link lanes and drains, Mr. Bhalla said that Rs. 1.94 crore have been released under R&B sector for upgradation and construction of lanes, drains including modernization of village nallah. He said renovation of seven lanes and drains has been taken up in the first phase and the work on the left out would be started soon. He called upon the people to cooperate with executing agencies in completing the project within stipulated time frame.
For facilitating the refugees residing in villages of these areas, the Minister said that Revenue Department has regularised 436 kanal land under Common Land Act 1956 and granted ownership rights to inhabitants at a public camp recently.
Earlier, Mr. Bhalla also visited Jawala Colony in Old Satwari, Chib Mohalla in Raipur Satwari and New Shanti Nagar in Kunjwani and kick started various development works like upgradation work of lanes, drains, irrigation channels besides modernisation of 80 meter nallah at new Shanti Nagar, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 18 lakh.
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