Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 24: “Accelerated pace of developmental works will make Billawar a model constituency”, said Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly; Dr Nirmal Singh after laying foundation for the construction of 5 km long road from Dharamkot to Surara via Malti to be executed under NABARD at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 crore by PWD(R&B) Department.
While addressing the gathering, Dr Singh informed that in block Bani, Billawar and Lohai, work on 122 roads costing around Rs 608 crore under PMGSY is in progress. Besides this, 33 roads covering 301 km were completed against the target of 928 km and the rest will be completed within the stipulated time frame, he added.
Elaborating on road connectivity under PWD in the area, the Speaker said that 5 roads which extends to 26 km costing Rs 23 crore under NABARD were laid besides 2 roads at the cost of Rs 40 crore covering 16 km under CRF will not only consolidate road network in the area but also strengthen the inter as well as intra village connectivity in Billawar.
The Speaker said that the regular maintenance of roads is a critical precondition for sustaining the positive impacts that roads bring to local communities. Minor maintenance is often neglected because of lack of funds, but inertia in the part of concerned departments is another major reason for poor maintenance of roads, Dr Singh maintained.
He further said that 5 roads in Billawar town covering length of 15 km will be completed at a cost of Rs. 5.5 crore and will help in decongesting traffic to a great extent.
Focusing on overall development scenario of Billawar, the Speaker divulged that NH costing Rs 700 crore has been sanctioned from Dayala Chak to Billawar via Challan.
He informed that around 55 beneficiaries were provided house under PMAY, in Billawar constituency, a 30 bedded hospital of Billawar has been upgraded to 100 bedded with all essential facilities and an amount of Rs 700 crore have been spent on various development works for Billawar besides an office of Billawar-Duggan tourism authority will be established in Phinter to reinforce the tourism circuit.
“100 % electrification of Billawar will be achieved by 2019”, the Speaker asserted and further informed that Rs 80 lakh have been spent from his CDF to resolve PHE related issues so that water supply can be streamlined to the people living in far off places besides 73 hand pumps have been repaired in water stressed areas.
Highlighting the achievements of Billawar administration, Dr Singh said that 600 PRCs have been disbursed by the administration till date through public service delivery camps organized at remote places whereas 1081 applications under Ladli Beti scheme have been approved.
The Speaker said that the Ujh Multipurpose Project will bring good fortune to the natives of this area as it irrigates not only the barren land but also provides drinking water and length of the dam has been decreased by 6 mts to save 20 % of the area from submergence.
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