Gopal Sharma
The border constituency of Rajouri, having 94 Panchayats and a population of over 2,0902 lakh, has witnessed good development in certain pockets in last about six years but the problems of water scarcity, poor supply of electricity besides health facilities are still being witnessed in certain areas. Not only in Doongi, Thannamandi or Manjakote hospitals, even the district hospital Rajouri is also facing severe shortage of doctors and para-Medical staff. In many schools, teachers do not go. There is shortage of teachers also in many rural schools including Higher Secondary schools where subject lecturers are hardly available.
Represented by Congress MLA Shabir Ahmed Khan, this constituency has 1,0,6004 voters. Mr Khan, a Pahari leader, also remained Minister of State for Health (Ind) and MoS PDD and CAPD for two terms. Hailing from Manjakote tehsil of district Rajouri, Mr Khan emerged as winner by securing 10,013 votes (13.63 %) out of total 73,469 votes polled in 2008 elections. PDP candidate Master Tasaduq Hussain grabbed 9680 votes while Independent candidate Ch Talib Hussain had secured 8763 votes, followed by 8712 by BJP candidate Vibodh Gupta and 7706 by NC candidate and former MLA Mohd Aslam.
Though ethnic divide plays an important role in deciding fate of any candidate in this constituency, yet development is the key `mantra’ for every one. This also holds true for the sitting MLA of this constituency. Though people from parts of Thannamandi and Doongi Garati, have some common problems like other parts of the region, yet majority of the people from this constituency had mostly positive remarks for their MLA. Particularly, over seventy percent of the people from Manjakote and Rajouri blocks expressed their satisfaction on the works initiated in six years.
Raj Kumar, Sarpanch Doongi said though it is not possible for any MLA or Minister to satisfy all people but it is also true that in last five years, some works were undertaken in this area comprising of 9 Panchayats. He said this entire belt having population of over 30,000 was demanding Tehsil status but the area was ignored. There is no PHC at present in this entire area though with the initiative of MLA, two new sub-centers were sanctioned. He said water supply position has now improved in the area and new transformers were also installed at some new locations. Power curtailment problem still exists and the education system has also witnessed some improvement. Three new roads have been sanctioned. The area received Block status with the efforts of MLA and people hope that he would help them in providing Tehsil status to the area.
Shamim Akhtar, a social worker from Thathial village in Doongi block said that after long time some attention has been given to this area by any public representative. The area got status of Block few years back but it deserves Tehsil status and strong representation has been sent to the Government for this demand. Shamim said there is some scarcity of water at this village and a new water supply scheme is needed for the area. Two water supply schemes were given in the adjoining villages by the MLA. Setting up of a Health Sub- Centre is also another demand of this village. Two new PMGSY roads from Doongi Maniyali to Ponthal and Ponthal to Thathiyali have been sanctioned and the work is going on there. The work on yet another road from Shiv Mandir to Thathiyali is in progress. Some uncovered areas have recently been covered under electrification but scheduled power cut has hit the public. She maintained that MLA continued to remain in touch with people and visiting this area for the last several years.
Fazal Hussain, Sarpanch Azmatabad in Thannamandi even being associated with a different party, by and large acknowledged the development works which took place in the area in last over five years. He said education, water supply and even power infrastructure has witnessed improvement in the area. Road from Azmatabad to Darra has been constructed. Work on yet another road from Maniyali to Azmatabad was started with the efforts of MLA. Though he does not pay much trips to Thannamandi area but some problems of the area have been resolved. He pointed out that condition of main Rajouri-Thannamandi road was in worst condition. The GREF authorities have failed to repair or upgrade this vital road which is also part of Mughal Road.
Haji Mohd Ashraf, Mohd Bashir and Nissar Hussain from Thannamandi alleged that there was severe shortage of ration in the area. There was shortage of safe drinking water and teachers in many schools do not go. In Bhat Mohalla PHE pipes have broken and the water supply has been affected but no body bothers to restore supply. It takes over weeks to replace a transformer if it gets damaged in the area. In some hilly areas there are no electric poles and the live cables have been tied with trees. The poor workers have not paid their wages under NREGA for months together by RDD authorities. At Azmatabad, they constructed a `Danga’ about ten months back, but were not paid wages till today. One Mohd Nayeem alias Lalli Baba from Thannamandi said that in local Municipal Committee, there are 13 wards but there is total mess. There is no proper cleanliness in the town and drainage system is choked. In many wards there are no drains. MLA has not visited the area for long now.
In local hospital, there are no specialist doctors. There is dearth of much needed equipment for performing tests. The local SDH is facing severe shortage of doctors. He alleged that nine health sub centers sanctioned for Thannamandi were shifted to Manjakote block. People face shortage of ration and specially sugar is not provided and is mostly sold in black. Lalli Baba also drawn the attention of worst condition of Rajouri-Thanamandi road and alleged that for the last over ten years, this road has been abandoned by the GREF authorities. It should be handed over to State R&B Department, he said.
Manju Sharma from Rajouri town said that with the efforts of local MLA, a new flyover/ bridge is being constructed in the town which will minimize traffic load in old market towards Gujjar Mandi Chowk. New hospital building, sports stadium and community hall are the major contributions of MLA for the people of Rajouri. She said water supply has also been improved as compared to last 4-5 years. Hand pumps have also been installed in several wards of Rajouri town.
Master Kanzar Nadeem from Kotli Kalaban in Manjakote said that area witnessed a lot of development after Shabir Khan became MLA as he also belongs to this block. He said several un-electrified hamlets were covered under RGGVY scheme and new transformers were installed on public demand. Some water supply schemes were also given in this area besides PMGSY roads and with this the area witnessed massive development. Though it is not possible to please everybody by a Minister or MLA, yet many works with which general public was benefitted were witnessed in Manjakote belt. Many new health sub-centres were also opened in this block and new Treasury has been opened. A new grid station has also been constructed in this area recently.
Beopar Mandal president Rajouri and a noted social activist Rajesh Gupta expressed some satisfaction over the development works witnessed in Rajouri town in last five years. He said there has been some improvement observed in water supply as out of five pumping stations, power infrastructure was augmented in three stations but still some funds are needed for the remaining two stations. Apart from scheduled power cuts, the power supply in the city was almost satisfactory. Referring to the major demand of the city dwellers, Mr Gupta said there was no community hall in Rajouri and with the initiative of MLA this demand has been fulfilled. He managed also managed funds worth Rs 40 lakh from R&B and Urban Local Bodies for the construction of community hall. To remove city congestion, a flyover -cum- bridge connecting Kheora locality near New Hospital is being constructed. Tiles are being laid in the city lanes. District hospital witnessed lot of improvement and work on new stadium is also going on. The work on Mini Secretariat complex at Rajouri could not be taken up so far despite the fact that some funds have been released for it. There was another major demand of a Mini Ware House at Rajouri which has remained unfulfilled. He rated the performance of MLA as by and large satisfactory.
The MLA, Shabir Ahmed Khan, however, claimed that he has ensured better development in his constituency in last five and half years. Mr Khan said he has always remained with the public and continued to be with them in every thick and thin. The MLA claimed that he managed up-gradation 6.3 MVA Rajdhani (Thannamandi) Power Receiving Station to the 10 MVA, construction of power receiving stations at Bhathian, Gambhir Brahmana, and Doongi Brahmana. Under RGGVY, Rs 29 crore projects are under execution for the electrification of uncovered hamlets and another DPR worth Rs 28 crore under this scheme has been submitted to the Government. Around 100 electric transformers of the capacity of 25 KVA for block Manjakote and around 90 for Thannamandi and 111 for block Rajouri including Doongi are being installed. Around 50 electric transformers have been installed in Rajouri constituency in last three years and nearly 1000 poles with conductor for HT/LT network put in place.
Twelve road projects worth Rs 39 crore have been taken up under NABARD, three bridges worth Rs 3.60 crore, 60 road projects worth Rs 109 crore under district sector, ten bridges and 40 roads worth Rs 91 crore under State sector have been taken up and Rs 2 crore is being spent on improving internal roads of Rajouri town. Construction of bye pass road from Slaughter House to new District Hospital, Rajouri including motorable bridge amounting to Rs 23 crore via Bella has been sanctioned and is nearing completion. It shall resolve the traffic congestion problem in Rajouri town. Construction of mini-secretariat has been taken up in Rajouri and Rs 6 crore has been released for the project. Ten roads under CRF and 10 under BADP have also been sanctioned for Rajouri and its border areas. Under PMGSY, 37 roads in phase 6th and 7th are being constructed with the cost of Rs 120 crore. 25 new roads have been recommended under 9th phase.
New Doongi block was created in the constituency and two Model villages Dheridhara and Dudasanwala have been completed. Ten more villages have been recommended as Model villages under BADP. Under MNREGA, Rs 5.5 crore was spent during 2009-2010, Rs 10 crore during 2010-11 and Rs 12 crore during 2012-13 in the constituency. Project worth Rs 9.20 crore has been launched for the development of Dera-ki-Gali as Tourist destination under Eco-Tourism. New Tourist Reception Centers at Muradpur near Rajouri and Dera- Ki- Gali are under execution. A fruit market is coming up at Muradpur where 75 shops and 2 auction sheds are being constructed. An amount of Rs 3.37 crore has been sanctioned for it. Separate Treasury was got sanctioned for Manjakote.
The MLA said sanctioning of a Medical College at Rajouri for the region with an amount of Rs 189 crore, establishment of ICU at District Hospital Rajouri, 39 Health sub-centres in Rajouri constituency are the great achievements. New District Hospital building at Rajouri with an estimated cost of Rs 45 core has been constructed. Creation of Block Manjakote which was earlier part of Darhal block is the major step taken. A GNM College for Rajouri and sanctioning of ANMT School at Thannamandi are also major achievements. Besides this, funds to the tune of Rs 50 lakh for SDH Sunderbani and Rs 70 lakh for SDH Nowshera were released as minister for improving health care system in Rajouri district. PHC buildings at Lah and Fatehpur are being constructed with the estimate cost of Rs 189 lakh each. Two dispensaries at Pallulian and Dhok have been sanctioned. Under irrigation, 28 schemes were executed under district Plan and 16 under AIBP are under execution. Lift Irrigation scheme at Deri Dharra is also under execution while flood protection works worth Rs 13.91 crore in Rajouri are under execution. Under PHE, 30 Water Supply Schemes are under execution in Rajouri constituency and more than 150 hand pumps have been provided to the public in last five years. 18 new Primary Schools were opened, 44 schools upgraded from Primary to Middle level, ten schools to High Schools level and 15 High Schools have been recommended for upgradation to Higher Secondary level under RMSA. A sports stadium at Rajouri has been started with the estimated cost of Rs 8 crore and Rs 2 crore have been spent so far on it. 74 new Anganwadi centres have been opened in Manjokote, 89 in Rajouri while 75 in Doongi Garati block.
With the creation of new administrative units, status of Sub Division was granted to Thannamandi, Tehsul status to Manjakote, Block status to Palangar and Panjgrain, Niabat to Shahdara Sharief, Saaj and Gambir Muglan. Tehsil status for Doongi Garati has been recommended to the Government through Dy Commissioner Rajouri. Besides this, block status for Deri Lalyaot and Niabats for Dudasan Balla, Souni, Ponthal, Rattal and Basali has also been recommended to the Government.
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