Budgam: Following up on his priority objective to speed up implementation of development schemes and more towards visible accountability of the administrative system, Governor N.N. Vohra began his district tour cum public outreach program with a visit to Budgam Monday. He had a fairly extensive interaction with MLAs, MLCs, former Legislators and Ministers, and representatives of various political parties in the district, following which he chaired a meeting of District, Divisional and State level officers to review implementation of development schemes in the district. Governor was accompanied by B. B.Vyas, Advisor to Governor; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Department; and Baseer Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir.
Legislators Omar Abdullah; Hakim Yasin; Javed Mustafa Mir; Gh Nabi Lone Hanjura; Agha Syed Ruhullah; Saif ud din Bhat; Ali Mohd Dar; Agha Syed Mahmood Mosavi; former Legislators Abdul Rahim Rather and Dr. Shafi Wani; and leaders of various political parties participated in the Governor’s meeting with political personalities.
The legislators and political representatives highlighted their concerns regarding the various challenges and difficulties being faced by the people, particularly those relating to health, education, power, road connectivity, water supply sanitation etc. They thanked the Governor for visiting Budgam to review the progress of works on the ground and expressed the hope that all pending projects will be taken up for timely execution and the development of the State will be speeded up.
Later, Governor chaired a meeting of the State, Divisional and District level officers in which he comprehensively reviewed development activities under execution by various departments in Budgam, particularly the sectoral, physical and financial achievements registered under District Plan and as well as the status of major works, both planned and ongoing works.
Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar Deputy Commissioner Budgam made a power point presentation giving an overview of the developmental scenario of the district and highlighting the major achievements recorded during the previous financial year as well as the targets and activities earmarked for the current year.
Governor approved additional funds of Rs. 5 crore, including Rs. 1 crore for the Deputy Commissioner’s discretionary utilisation, to execute some small but important works, to be completed with in the next 90 days. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to rationalise the land acquisition, shifting of utilities and other processes for the speedy completion of all pending projects.
While reviewing the road connectivity targets achieved under the PMGSY, Governor directed the Chief Engineer to set up district wise targets for completion of all projects under Phase IX of the Scheme. He also directed that a performance audit of all water Filtration Plants should be done and dysfunctional filtration plants replaced on time bound basis.
Stressing the high importance of cleanliness, Governor directed the DC to: (i) submit a weekly report of progress achieved under the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan; (ii) to ensure that all attachments in the Health and Education sectors were reversed and adequate staff is positioned at all the health and educational institutions in the district; (iii) to set up a Grievance Cell and ensure weekly review of the follow up action taken on all complaints; (iv) to satisfy herself and relocate the proposed Indoor Stadium to the already identified land at Rishi Pora; (v) to strictly implement provisions of the extant land conversion laws; (vi) to immediately ensure biometric attendance of all employees and maintenance of the tour diaries by the field staff.
Advisor Vyas directed: (i) the Department of Public Health and Engineering to ensure drinking water supply in all the schools within 90 days; (ii) M.D, JKPCC to prioritise incomplete projects and upload all the details on the MIS platform immediately.
Regarding the projects which have remained incomplete for want of adequate allocations Governor asked B.B. Vyas, Advisor, to study and discuss the matter with him in the next 10 days.
