Asks for creating mass awareness about Govt schemes
KISHTWAR, JULY 21: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, today reviewed the achievements in District Kishtwar under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, here at District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA)DISHA meeting held through Video Conference.
The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner Kishtwar Rajinder Singh Tara, Senior Superintendent of Police Kishtwar Harmeet Singh Mehata, ADDC Kishtwar Mohd Hanief Malik, ADC Kishtwar Pawan Parihar, Joint Director Planning Mohd Iqbal, President Municipal Council Kishtwar, Riyaz Ahmed Zarhar, BDC Chairperson Kishtwar, Suresh Kumar Sharma, BDC Chairperson Paddar, Arpan Singh, BDC Chairperson Drabshalla,Suraj Prakash, BDC Chairperson Inderwal, Hamida Begum besides district and sectoral officers.
At the outset, a detailed PowerPoint presentation on financial as well as physical progress under all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes being implemented in the district was given by the DDC.
The Union Minister reviewed the achievements of various Schemes being implemented by PWD, Health, RDD, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Jal Shakti, PDD, Education, Horticulture, Social Welfare, Labour and Employment, Urban Development, PMGSY and other departments.
Besides, the pace of progress and impediments in the execution of various projects like Air Strip Kishtwar, coverage of left over habitation under PMGSY, awareness programmes at SAGY village Bhatan Dimji, Zeera Park Paddar, Saffron Park Kishtwar, Special Coverage of most backward villages of the district, implementation of PMDP, construction of additional 100 bedded IPD block at DH Kishtwar, Multipurpose sports hall, Degree college Chhatroo, BSC Nursing College Kishtwar, CHC Marwah and Construction of 25 bedded SDH Atholi Paddar among others projects were also deliberated upon in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that the final award with regard to acquisition of the additional 300 metre land for the Air strip has been issued, and the land acquisition proceedings for construction of terminals has been initiated.
The Union Minister directed all the district and sectoral officers to highlight their achievements at various levels to make the public aware about the key schemes and their benefits.
On the issue of Identifying the most Backward villages in the district, the Chair was informed that based on the recommended indicators the villages of Kuntwara , Pahalgwari, Khwara, Tun- Gandhari, Palali, Lasoni, Haloti, Sumcham and Kither have been identified but final survey was delayed due to COVID 19 pandemic.
The DDC further informed that 10 Kanal land of agriculture department is available at Atholi Paddar and DPR for establishing Zeera Park there stands submitted to Director Agriculture.
Besides, 20 kanal of land at Poochal has been identified for Saffron Park and the Director agriculture has been asked to send a team of technical experts to assess the feasibility of the said land.
Dr. Jatindera Singh directed the DDC to review the progress under PMDP projects on a regular basis and dovetail the schemes of various departments and achieve saturation under every scheme at SAGY Village Bhatan.
He further asked to make camps of Horticulture, Handicrafts and other departments a weekly exercise. He impressed upon the DDC to frame a schedule of department wise awareness camps in the SAGY Village.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister was also informed that the foundation work of 25 bedded SDH at Atholi Paddar and BSC nursing College Kishtwar is in progress, while the work on superstructure of Community Health Centre Marwah is gaining momentum after the resumption of developmental works in the district after COVID-19 unlock.
The Works on Multipurpose indoor sports hall and GDC Chhatroo has been resumed after the relaxation and these are at the different stages of the completion, the DDC informed further.
It was further informed that till date 780 houses have been completed under Prime Minister Awas Yojana(Grameen).
While reviewing the working of Jal Shakhti department, it was informed that work on 49 schemes and 02 lift schemes has been taken up under different programmes, while 32 other schemes are being executed to cover 39 villages under Jal Jevan Mission and 5 irrigation projects were restored benefitting 213 hectares of agriculture land.
To harness the local resources in the agriculture and the allied sectors, it was informed that the district administration has targeted to tap the available potential to the full. In this regard, regular agriculture awareness camps are being organised for educating farmers and orchardists about the KCC.
About surface connectivity, it was informed that against 167 approved PMGSY roads, 55 have been completed and the work on rest is at different stages.
Various other issues like pending land and structure compensation for PMGSY and R&B roads, Shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, dearth of ambulances, unavailability of fruit and vegetable mandi, link road to 50 bedded AYUSH Hospital and provision of subsidy under Integrated development of small ruminants and rabbit scheme at par with District Doda were also highlighted by DDC and the necessary directions were issued by the Union Minister.
President Municipal Council Kishtwar, Riyaz Ahmed Zarhar, BDC chairperson Kishtwar, Suresh Kumar Sharma, BDC Chairperson Paddar, Arpan Singh, BDC Chairperson Drabshalla, Suresh Prakash, BDC Chairperson Inderwal, Hamida Begum also highlighted their demands.
They sought widening of roads and drains in Kishtwar town, extension of existing Bus stand at Kishtwar, recruitment of locals in Kiru project, construction of additional 100 bedded hospital at Kishtwar, increasing pace of work on AYUSH Hospital, Resumption of work on Rattle Power project, mini stadium for Drabshalla, declaring Paddar Machail Road as Defence road and putting Machail Circuit on tourism map, expediting work on Honswar Micro HEP and reservation to paddari speaking people on the pattern of Pahari speaking people.
Responding to the demands, Dr. Jatindera Singh said that the staff shortages in various departments shall be met after the recruitment under new accelerated recruitment policy will be done.
He further reiterated the Saffron park, Kiru HEP and 50 bedded hospital are national level projects and they should be expedited on priority clearing all obstacles and hiccups.
On the issue of declaring PMGSY road Machail as Defence road , he asked DDC Kishtwar to take up the matter with OC ,GREF and send a proposal in this regard.
Highlighting the fact that Kishtwar district is a hydro power district and HEPs like Pakkal Dul, Kiru à nd upcoming Rattle and Kwar will be providing Employment to many, he said that unskilled labour of Kishtwar district shall be given priority and skilled man power if not available in Kishtwar can be hired from outside the District.
The Union Minister also appreciated the role of DDC Kishtwar in maintaining a fine balance between restrictions and development during the present COVID-19 pandemic.
He further directed the DDC to complete all the central schemes and other projects as per the set timeline.
