Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 15: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla has asked the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to gear up men and machinery to complete the ongoing construction work on 8363 meter long nallahs in various city localities, adding that for this purpose Government has earmarked Rs. 15.50 crore.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the ERA officers after inspecting the ongoing construction work of the project, here today.
Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (JKHB) Ram Pal Sharma besides other senior officers of ERA, PHE, R&B and JKHB accompanied the Minister.
Mr. Bhalla asked the Managing Director JKHB to prepare estimates for up-gradation of internal links like lanes, roads and drainage system of Channi Himmat locality and submit the same for funding. He asked him to also prepare estimates for development of walkway along the available land on the embankment of under progress R-3 locality nallah so that the encroachment could be avoided.
The Minister informed that JKHB has approved Rs. 2.50 crore for creation of health club, swimming pool, and tug shop, besides a recreation centre facilities on the available land near the Green Belt Park in Channi Himmat Sector-1, adding that the project would be started soon. He informed that there was no constraint of funds in completing the project within stipulated time frame.
Mr. Bhalla said Govern-ment was committed to develop all the open spaces on modern lines by creating walkways and recreational parks there. He said that Gover-nment has formulated comprehensive plans under PHE, PDD, R&B, Education, ERA and Health sectors to meet the developmental aspirations of the people of newly developed colonies of the State.
Earlier, the Minister distributed sewing machines, tailoring kits and stipend cheques among the women trained in tailoring at an awareness camp organized by Social Welfare Department at Old Satwari.
Interacting with the gathering, Mr. Bhalla said that Government has launched several welfare schemes to provide assistance to poor and downtrodden, including Sche-dule Castes, Schedule Tribes, physically handicapped persons and Other Backward Classes of the society. He asked the poor women and other weaker sections of the society to take benefit of schemes meant for their socio-economic development. He said that Social Welfare Department (SWD) is implementing many schemes meant for their socio-economic amelioration.
Later, the Minister also kick-started construction work of lanes and drains in W No. 22 in Shastri Nagar, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 6.5 lakh. He asked the executing agency JMC to complete the project within stipulated time frame by using quality material.
Responding to demand of Shastri Nagar Housing Colony residents, Mr. Bhalla asked the Managing Director JK Housing Board to immediately start the face-lifting work of the flats. He called upon the residents to cooperate with the JKHB authorities in protecting the assets of Housing Board including recreation parks.
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