The Minister had a detailed review of functioning and progress of the Jal Shakti and Irrigation works in Mendhar, with focus on implementation of developmental works, physical and financial progress besides scheme-wise utilisation of funds.

The concerned Executive Engineers apprised the Minister of the latest status of ongoing works, funds released and expenditure incurred under various schemes.

Emphasising the importance of strengthening the public infrastructure and ensuring improved service delivery, Rana called upon the officers to maintain close coordination and adopt a result-oriented approach towards the execution of developmental projects. He stressed that the timely completion of water supply schemes must remain a priority to ensure reliable access to drinking water for people, particularly in areas facing challenges in water availability.

“The government is committed to ensure equitable access to basic amenities and improve the quality of life of people, particularly in far-flung and underserved areas. Developmental works must translate into tangible benefits for the people on ground,” asserted the Minister.

Reviewing the progress of irrigation works in Mendhar, Javed Ahmed Rana directed the officers to expedite the ongoing projects, ensure quality execution and adhere to stipulated timelines. He emphasised the need for regular field inspections, effective monitoring and close coordination among the concerned agencies to address implementation-related issues and ensure timely completion of projects for the benefit of the local population.

“Officers must ensure that public funds are utilised judiciously and that every project progresses in accordance with its prescribed timelines. Effective monitoring and timely intervention are essential to overcome the bottlenecks and ensure quality execution of works,” he said.

The Minister also emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts between the Jal Shakti and Irrigation & Flood Control departments to address local infrastructure requirements and ensure that developmental initiatives respond effectively to the needs of the people of Mendhar.

The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti, Jammu; Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Jammu; Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic Circle, Poonch; Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE) Division, Mendhar; and Executive Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Division, Poonch, besides concerned Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers of Mendhar Constituency.

The award was received by Rashid Raina, Deputy Director Tourism Publicity, Kashmir, and Pankaj Sasan, Deputy Director Tourism Publicity, Jammu, on behalf of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism.

The J&K Tourism Pavilion witnessed encouraging footfall and generated considerable interest among members of Goa’s travel trade fraternity, with numerous enquiries about the Union Territory’s diverse tourism offerings. The visiting officers actively engaged with travel professionals, addressed their queries and highlighted J&K’s rich tourism potential, including its scenic landscapes, cultural heritage, adventure activities and emerging tourism experiences.

On the sidelines of ITM Goa–2026, the visiting officers also visited the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, to explore possibilities for institutional collaboration and identify new avenues for promoting water sports and adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir.

The recognition further strengthens Jammu & Kashmir’s position on the national tourism map and reflects the continued efforts of the Tourism Department to expand its outreach, forge industry partnerships and showcase the Union Territory as a year-round tourism destination.

Kupwara : District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Abhishek Sharma, Monday chaired a meeting of concerned officers to review the physical and financial progress of developmental projects being executed under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) across the district.

Emphasising the importance of robust road infrastructure, particularly last-mile connectivity, the DDC observed that reliable connectivity is fundamental to grassroots development. He directed executing agencies and line departments to work in close coordination, address procedural bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of all ongoing projects.

The Superintending Engineer, R&B Circle Kupwara, presented a detailed overview of NABARD-funded works under RIDF 27, RIDF 29, RIDF 30 and RIDF 31. Key projects, including Galizoo Stadium and Bohipora Bridge, were reviewed, with directions to expedite their execution.

Taking note of procedural delays, the DDC directed the Forest Department to ensure timely compliance with online clearance requirements on the PARIVESH portal. He stressed that Essential Details Sought (EDS) should be raised in a single instance rather than through piecemeal queries to avoid unnecessary delays. Executive Engineers were also directed to actively pursue pending cases.

The Forest Department was further asked to expedite clearances under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), while the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) was directed to resolve pending land-related issues and facilitate the requisite land possession for project execution.

Reviewing road connectivity under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) and PMGSY, the DDC highlighted the importance of improved connectivity for remote and border habitations, particularly Keran, Machil and Amroohi. He observed that bridging the infrastructure gap in these areas remains a priority for the administration, ensuring that residents of far-flung border villages have access to essential public utilities and improved connectivity.

He further instructed all Executive Engineers to personally undertake project-wise site inspections, assess the quality of works and submit action-taken reports. Setting a firm timeline, he directed that all pending inter-departmental issues and execution-related bottlenecks be resolved within 14 days.

The meeting was attended by Superintending Engineers of R&B and PMGSY, Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Kupwara, DFO Langate, representatives of DFO Kehmil and Kamraj, besides concerned Executive Engineers and other district officers.

Kulgam : Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Shahzad Alam, Monday chaired a review meeting to assess the progress of Farmer ID generation under the AgriStack initiative and review the implementation of the SVAMITVA scheme in the district.

During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner undertook a detailed review of the progress achieved in Farmer ID generation and discussed various issues and bottlenecks hampering the implementation process. He emphasised the need to ensure comprehensive coverage of all eligible farmers and directed the concerned revenue functionaries to intensify their field-level efforts to facilitate the timely generation of Farmer IDs.

The DC directed the revenue functionaries to reach out to farmers at the grassroots level, extend necessary assistance in completing the requisite formalities and ensure the smooth and hassle-free generation of Farmer IDs. He also stressed the need to establish contact with migrated families, wherever required, and facilitate the resolution of related issues to ensure that no eligible farmer is left out of the exercise.

The meeting also reviewed the status of village bucketing, which has been completed in 208 villages of the district. The DC took stock of the progress achieved and deliberated upon the issues requiring intervention and resolution to expedite the remaining work.

The Deputy Commissioner further directed the concerned officers to expedite pending mutations and rectify discrepancies in revenue records on priority to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the database. He also emphasised that all PatwarKhanas must remain accessible to the public, with revenue functionaries ensuring their regular availability for the efficient and timely delivery of public services.

The meeting was attended by ADC KulgamVikar Ahmad Giri, ACR Kulgam Riyaz Ahmad Shah, besides other revenue officers including Tehsildar and NTs and field functionaries of the district.

During the meeting, the DC sought detailed feedback from the concerned stakeholders regarding the challenges hindering the effective implementation of the scheme. He stressed the need for an extensive door-to-door awareness campaign to educate the public about the benefits of the scheme and encourage more eligible households to avail its benefits.

The DC also impressed upon the concerned officers to expedite the installation and coverage of smart meters, highlighting their importance in ensuring transparency, improving energy efficiency and enhancing consumer convenience.

He directed the empanelled vendors to accelerate the installation of pending rooftop solar panels and ensure timely completion of all allotted cases, so that the maximum number of eligible households across the district can benefit from the scheme.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Jugal Kishore, Assistant Commissioner Development, Om Parkash and other senior officers from the concerned departments.

The Committee examined a total of 392 proposals received under the three programmes for scrutiny and consideration. These included 347 cases under HADP, 43 cases under JKCIP and 2 cases under NMNF.

The applications were examined scheme-wise and department-wise by the committee as part of the district-level scrutiny and approval process.