Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 31: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar distributed cheques among fire sufferers, beneficiaries of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan at Ganderbal today so that the sufferers would be able to reconstruct their houses shortly.
The Minister during his extensive visit of the district held a meeting to review physical and financial achievements. The Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Itrat Hussain Rafiqi and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.
The Minister was informed that 98 percent of district plan of Rs. 49 crore was spent on the execution of various developmental works and welfare schemes in the district during 2012-13.
Rs. 22 crore have been expended on various road projects while as 114 km road length has been macadamized in the district. Work on five bridges at a cost of Rs. 6.90 crore is apace, out of which one has been completed at Gundi Rehman, the meeting was informed.
Under irrigation sector, three irrigation canals have been completed while as eight water supply schemes are under progress on which Rs. 1.99 crore have been spent during the year.
Mr. Sagar was also informed that 5 Primary Health Centres are under construction at a cost of Rs. 8.43 crore, of this, Rs. 2.22 crore have been spent on the execution on these projects.
Rs. 8.43 crore have been expended on the development of education sector in the district. Five schools have been upgraded, 32 schools have been fenced and two new Primary Schools opened under SSA.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sagar stressed upon the officers to immediately start work on new targets fixed for the year 2013-14 without wasting time for approvals. He said officers should not keep projects lingering for petty things.
He gave a time line for completion of some vital utility projects in Ganderbal which include Rs. 52.56 crore 200 bedded district hospital, Rs. 19.41 crore bus stand, Rs. 6 crore residential flats, construction of blood bank and Zakura-Wuyil road, besides Central University.
Mr. Sagar also directed Deputy Commissioner to acquire additional land of 700 kanals for Central University for which 3400 kanals have already been acquired and Rs. 20 crore have been disbursed as compensation to the land owners.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Itrat Hussain Rafiqi gave a detailed resume of developmental profile of the district.
Mr. Sagar later distributed cheques of Rs. 10.50 lakh as financial assistance among 150 beneficiaries at a function organised by Rural Sanitation regarding Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.
The Minister was flanked by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Director Rural Sanitation and Director Rural Development Department.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sagar called upon the people to take full advantage of the Centrally sponsored scheme of rural sanitation. He said 2269 latrines have been constructed in the Ganderbal district during the year 2012-13.
The Minister said that the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is committed to develop Ganderbal as a model district in the State. He appealed people to ensure peace and tranquillity, adding some elements are hell bent upon to disturb the development agenda of the Government, but he assured that they would not succeed in their ill designs.
Later, at another function, Mr. Sagar distributed relief cheques of Rs. 2.48 lakh among 21 fire sufferer families of Tujgari Mohalla Sheikh Colony, Nowhatta.
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