Advisor Baseer visits Budgam; reviews working of RDD, PDD, assess COVID control measures

Budgam: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Tuesdayconducted a day long extensive tour of various areas of Budgam district including Airport Humhama, Shiekhpora, Karipora and Sebden.
The tour was aimed to have an on spot assessment of various initiatives launched by the district administration Budgam with regard to development activities in these areas.
Advisor was accompanied by DDC Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, Director RDD, Chief Engineer PDD, SSP Budgam, ACD, CMO and other concerned officers during the visit.
While inspecting the construction work of Panchayat Bhavan at Airport Road Humhama, Advisor directed the concerned to speed up the pace of progress on the building for timely completion. He asked all the concerned officers to double their efforts towards expeditious completion of all ongoing projects in view of the time already lost due to the prevailing circumstances.
The two storied Bhavan, coming at a cost of Rs. 9.20 crore, will be equipped with all latest requisite facilities. Till date Rs. 7.50 crore have been expended on the project.
During the visit of Sheikhpora and adjacent areas, Advisor inspected several ongoing development projects being executed under various schemes. He also interacted with the local deputations and took stock of their issues and concerns.
While reviewing the works being done by RDD, Advisor asked the concerned to identify the areas where wage potential can be created and utilized to generate employment with requisite number of person days. He said, apart from projects and works launched by RDD Budgam, improvement of irrigation canals, development of play fields, construction of bandhs can be targeted as it has the capacity to generate employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled manpower.
Regarding the issue of disbursement of wages among the labourers, Advisor directed the concerned to ensure that all the pendencies on this account shall be cleared at the earliest.
On the issue of agriculture activities in the district, Advisor reiterated that agriculture is backbone of our economy so the sector needs to boost its activities with full potential in view of easing of restrictions related to COVID-19.
Later, Advisor chaired a meeting of officers to review COVID-19 pandemic containment efforts being taken up by the district administration.
DC Budgam informed that 1846 contacts of COVID positive cases have been traced, 25651 persons have arrived through flights and 11617 tests have been carried out besides 34 quarantine centers with 1381 bed capacity, 8 COVID Wellness centres and 3 COVID level II hospitals have been set up in the district till date.
Baseer Khan stressed on enhanced contact tracing and sample collection for testing especially in red zone areas. He said there shall be free of cost Dialysis for those who can’t afford it. ‘There is need to adopt pro-active and cautious approach to deal with the rise in COVID-19 positive cases, if occurs, in the district’, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Baseer Khan emphasized the importance of awareness regarding COVID-19 and asked the district administration to launch massive awareness programs by utilizing the services of Panchayat Raj Institution functionaries and religious heads as well.
Advisor reiterated that all the frontline workers deployed in red zones, quarantine centres and COVID hospitals shall be protected and safeguarded with proper PPEs. He instructed the concerned to impose penalty for not wearing masks and ensure that lockdown guidelines are implemented strictly.
Meanwhile, Advisor also reviewed the functioning of Power Development Department in the district and instructed to resolve all the land acquisition and compensation issues pertaining to the department at an earliest. No illegal connection and unauthorized use of power supply shall be tolerated, added the Advisor with instructions to the concerned Executive Engineers to keep a strict vigil over the power pilferage in the district.