Excelsior Correspondent
Poonch, Nov 5: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today took a detailed review of the implementation of developmental schemes in Poonch and Mendhar.
The main focus of meeting was to further streamline the implementation of various developmental schemes and discuss the pace of distribution of food grains under NFSA, MMSFES and PMUY in the district.
Present in the meeting were MLA Haveli Shah Mohd Tantray, MLA Surankote Chowdhary Mohammad Akram, DDC Poonch Mohmmad Harun Malik, SSP Poonch J.S. Johar, ACR Ashraf Chowdhary Assistant Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs, Executive Engineers of PWD, PDD, PHE, PMGSY besides all other district heads and tehsil heads.
Underlining the importance of effective mechanism for implementation of schemes and projects, he said the Government is committed to inclusive and equitable development of all the region of the State particularly rural districts like Poonch. He said Poonch deserves to be developed as ‘gateway’ of the State, country as well as for the Central Asia, adding this was the dream of late Mufti Mohammad Sayed.
While discussing overall status of various development schemes in the district, he was informed that under the budget allocation of Rs 1.78 crore Rs 55 crore have been released so far of which Rs 43 crore have been spent which is 78 percent of total available funds.
While apprising the Minister about the status of major projects taken up in the district, the District Development Commissioner Poonch Mohammad Harun Malik said that additional funds are required to accelerate the work on Mini Secretariat building at Mendhar and Phagla – Mandi road. The meeting also discussed the damages caused to Mini Secretariat building in Poonch and restoration of 132 KV grid lines.
The Minister said that a meeting would be convened in Jammu soon for resolving the important issues of the district on priority basis.
Taking serious view of the dilapidated conditions of Thannamandi to Buffliaz road, the Minister directed the Border Road Organization to start the repair work at the earliest.
The Minister also reviewed constituency wise distribution of food grains under NFSA, MMSFES besides implementation of PMUY. He also took stock of allocation of foods and stock position in the different constituency of the district.
The Minister also expressed concern over the plight of locals due to heavy shelling along LoC.
Later, the Minister visited the shelling affected LoC areas in Mendhar and interacted with affected families. He also took on the spot stock of the measures put in place by the administration to provide necessary relief to the affected people.
The Minister also provided financial assistance of Rs five thousand to twelve persons who received minor injuries during the recent shelling. He also assured that Rs five lakh would be provided to next of the kin of those who lost their life in cross LoC shelling.