Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Jan 19: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma has lauded the Central Government for providing liberal funding during the past over five years that has enabled the State Government to initiate major development projects.
He said Central leadership; particularly UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took keen interest in the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir and helped in providing adequate funds for the up-gradation of essential services and launching several welfare schemes.
While addressing a public meeting at village Kote Gari in Akhnoor, the Minister listed the achievements of the Coalition Government during its current tenure and said that a massive development has taken place in all vital sectors and the people have acknowledged the improvement on ground. He said the Government has made its sincere efforts to upgrade the facilities of drinking water, road connectivity, health, education and irrigation.
He said in Akhnoor area majority of villages have been connected with pucca road links under PMGSY and other schemes. Road connectivity is the main plank for the development and greater thrust has been laid on strengthening this sector. Similarly, the other sectors have also received the focused attention of the Government, said the Minister.
With a view to upgrade the irrigational facilities in the kandi belt of Akhnoor, the Minister said that the Government has formulated a proposal for setting up of 18 irrigation tube-wells with an estimated cost of over Rs. 50 crore and sent to the Central Government for funding. The proposal has been devised keeping in view the potential of the area and Government will realize this dream of people of dry belt, said the Minister.
Similarly, to overcome the paucity of drinking water in the dry belt, the Government will set up five deep drilling tube-wells along the River Chenab during the next financial year. A survey in this connection has already been completed. He assured to construct separate tube-well for Kote Gari village.
Responding to the demands of the locals, the Minister announced Rs. 10 lakh for construction of sports ground at village Kote Gari. He said Government wants to channelize the energy of youth towards the positive direction and to keep them away from the menace of drugs and other social evils, therefore, the sports activities are being initiated in the rural areas.
Regarding repair of irrigation channels in the area, the Minister directed the engineers to formulate a comprehensive proposal for all such tributaries so that necessary renovation and repair is undertaken in the ensuing season.
With regard to providing pension to the poor and other categories, the Minister informed that the Government has sanctioned pension in favour of over 1600 beneficiaries belonging to different categories. Before the close of current financial year the money will be deposited in their accounts. He directed the officers of social welfare department to undertake extensive exercise and ensure that all the deserving beneficiaries covered and receive the justice.
On the occasion, the Minister informed the people that decks have been cleared for setting up of Navodhaya Vidhayalaya at Akhnoor and Central Government has accorded its formal sanction. Similarly, the formalities have also been completed for black-topping of Akhnoor-Jourian-Khour road and Union Ministry of Defense has been urged to undertake the project at the earliest. He hoped that the entire road stretch will be black topped before ending March, 2013.
Earlier, the Minister participated in a function organizedy the DCM Public School, Gurah Brahamana in connection with the conversion of school from J&K Board to CBSE.
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