Excelsior Correspondent
SHOPIAN, May 14: The District Development Board approved the outlay plan of Rs. 86.63 crore for the district Shopian. The decision was taken at the board meeting held under the chairmanship of Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Mohammad Ashraf Mir.
The meeting was attended by MP Rajya Sabha Nazir Ahmad Laway, MLA Shopian Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, MLA Wachi Aijaz Ahmad Mir, MLC Zaffar Iqbal, MLC Showkat Hussain, DDC Shopian Gazanfar Ali, Heads of Departments, Chief Engineers and all district officers besides other concerned officers.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman said Shopian will continue to receive focused attention of the present dispensation in the field of development and social security. He said the horticulture, tourism and other important sectors upon which the economy of the district as well as of the State depends would be prioritized for focused funding and development.
Mir said that prioritized focus is being given on boosting horticulture and tourism sectors in the State and measures are afoot to improve economy of Shopian district by focused funding of projects under these sectors.
He directed the DDC to personally monitor ongoing development projects in the district and take measures for removal of bottlenecks, if any, for timely completion of the projects. He called upon theofficers to work with added zeal and enthusiasm to serve the people.
The Minister also asked the District Development Commissioner to hold regular meetings to assess the implementation of the developmental and welfare schemes adding that the officers concerned will be made accountable for their work.
He also directed HoDs to conduct frequent field visits to monitor the quality and pace of developmental works.
The Chairman also assured the legislators that all their grievances and demands will be given due priority. The Chairman said that all the suggestions made by the MLAs would also be taken care of by provisional heads and directed the officers that every plan should be finalized in consultation with the legislators.
The Chairman also recommended including Shopian district under the category of Special Area Development Fund.
Earlier, the District Development Commissioner, Gazanfar Ali, while giving a detailed power point presentation, briefed about the achievements made under various sectors in the district.
The meeting also discussed shortfall of staff in the district hospital Shopian, sub-district hospitals and PHCs in the district. The Director Health Services Kashmir was impressed to meet out the shortfall of staff.
Threadbare discussion was held on the board decisions taken during 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The respective legislators raised their genuine concern over the time taken by the authorities for the implementation of DDB decisions. The Chairman directed the concerned officers to implement all the board decisions including Chief Minister’s commitments in time bound manner as they are the supreme decisions and their sanctity should be upheld. He further said that any laxity in this regard shall be dealt strictly.
On the occasion, the legislators raised issues of their respective constituencies pertaining to basic services like power supply, education and health infrastructure, strengthening of PHE distribution network and promotion of horticulture and tourism sector. All the legislators urged the Chairman to prioritize the district in terms of funding and development.
Later, MP Rajya Sabha Nazir Ahmad Laway announced Rs 10 lakh from his MPLADS funds for meritorious students of the district.
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