Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Dec 10: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Doda Harvinder Singh today convened a Block Diwas Camp at Panchayat Mundhar Lower-A, Kastigarh (Doda).
A large number of people attended the camp and put forth development demands, seeking timely intervention from the district administration. The outreach initiative served as a crucial platform for residents to communicate their grievances directly to Officers/officials, many of which have remained unresolved for years.
Among the prominent issues raised was the demand for restoration and blacktopping of vital road stretches, including 500-metre Koti road segment and the Saras–Kastigarh road.
Locals also demanded relief and land allotment for families affected by recent landslides, many of whom have suffered extensive property damage.
Residents also expressed concern over the rising bear menace in the region and urged the wildlife department to take preventive and protective measures. Further demands included timely renewal of labour cards, settlement of AAY ration cards, installation of street lights and sanctioning of a new transformer to improve the power supply.
The youth strongly demanded a playground to promote sports and prevent drug abuse, while locals also highlighted pending issues such as non-implementation of RDSS works, delay in Animal Husbandry building construction, and the GDC Kastigarh land dispute—seeking retendering to expedite completion of the College campus.
Demands were also raised for a mobile medical unit, construction of Panchayat Ghar at Shamthi, development, maintenance of the roads and land allotment for families affected by landslides.
Responding to the public concerns, the DDC directed departments to organise awareness camps to educate people about government schemes and assured PMAY housing support for landslide-affected families. He instructed the XEN PMGSY to prioritize road restoration works and directed the Tehsildar to identify land for the establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) Kastigarh.
The DDC Doda also assured development of a playground for local youth, ordered installation of wildlife cages to contain dangerous animal movement and instructed concerned departments to resolve MGNREGA material availability issues. He further affirmed improvement in basic infrastructure, including transformer supply, street lighting and essential public services.
Later, the DDC visited the landslide-affected site, inspected the extent of road damage and interacted with the locals of the area.
The DDC was accompanied by DDC Councillor Kastigarh, CPO, ACD, SE Hydraulic, PO ICDS, CMO, CAO Doda, DSWO Doda, concerned XENs and other officers and officials.
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