Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 10: The Billawar town in Kathua district will be brought under Centrally Sponsored Urban Infrastructural Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) with an allocation of Rs. 47 crore. This will be in addition to Rs. 3.53 crore being spent under Integrated Housing Slum Development Programme ( IHSDP) in the town.
This was stated by the Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora during his visit to Billawar town today.
The Minister of State for Cooperative, Fisheries, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma who is also the local public representative accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Jora took a detailed review of various on-going urban development works in the town to know status of various schemes. He said that under IHSDP Rs. 3.53 crore are being provided as cash assistance to about 175 families living below the poverty line for constructing their houses. The scheme will be completed by the end of March 2014. Under UIDSSMT, basic urban infrastructure including solid waste management, augmentation of drinking water, renovation and up-gradation of roads, construction of lanes and drains and community halls will be undertaken in the town to provide modern amenities to the people, said Mr. Jora.
The Minister said that a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Rajiv Awas Yojana will be launched in district Kathua from the next financial year to improve living conditions of people especially the slum dwellers.
While interacting with the officers, Mr. Jora stressed for effective implementation of various flagship programmes with a missionary zeal so that their benefits percolate down to the genuine beneficiaries.
On the occasion Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma convened a public darbar to get firsthand information about the problems of the people. Responding to the demands of the people, the Minister assured the people that all their genuine grievances will be redressed earnestly in a phased manner.
He also distributed 40 cheques among the cocoon rears for construction of sheds, each costing Rs 10,000 as first installment. He also distributed cheques among 46 houseless beneficiaries at the rate of Rs 30000 per family for construction of their dwelling units.
Director Local Bodies, Jammu, Arun Sharma, SDM Billawar and officers of Local Bodies, Cooperatives, Fisheries and district administration accompanied the Ministers.
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