Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: Seeking people’s cooperation to accomplish Government’s determination to reach out the neglected and ignored areas of the State, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma asserted that the present regime is keen to develop hilly and border areas so as to fulfil its commitment with the people.
This was stated by the Minister, while inspecting the widening work of Fowahara Chowk, Akhnoor which would be completed at the cost of Rs. 17.73 lakh by the GREF.
Listing various road and other projects taken up in the area, Sham Lal said like elsewhere in the State, massive road connectivity programme has been launched with a view to accelerate economic activities in the border areas of Jammu. He said that the Government was tirelessly working for the development of far-flung areas by providing better civic amenities and other social infrastructure.
Mr. Sham said that Akhnoor tehsil has witnessed massive development in all sectors because of an effective planning, adding that various schemes under R&B, PHE, PDD, Health, Tourism and education have been initiated to achieve balanced development in the town.
The Minister stressed upon the need to bring in more accountability and transparency in timely utilization of funds and completion of the ongoing projects within stipulated time frame. He asked the people as well as local representative to keep a watch on the implementation of developmental and welfare schemes in their respective areas as it will help in enforcing accountability in the public affairs. He also enumerated various welfare schemes undertaken by Government for improving socio-economic conditions of the people of the State.
The Minister asked the PHE authorities to furnish a comprehensive plan for providing safe drinking water to the Akhnoor town. He also reviewed the physical status of two over head tanks being constructed in the town for which the funds have also been released.
On the occasion, the Minister also met the representatives of International Conference on Triggering Discoveries in High Energy Physics being held at Jammu University. Interacting with the scientists, on their visit to Akhnoor, Mr. Sham said that research is key to progress and advancement and hoped that young scholars and scientists would put in their best in steering the country to pinnacles of technological development.
Re-emphasizing his commitment to link Akhnoor’s past with present by preserving heritage sites and working on their up keep, Mr. Sham said that instructions have been issued to concerned authorities for fast track conservation and protection of historical monuments and sites. He said fillip in state’s tourism is embedded in linking it with cultural distinctiveness of the state, which can attract domestic, foreign and Indian diaspore to the State.
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