Excelsior Correspondent
URI, Dec 16: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said that the development undertaken on the ground in the State by present Government is a proof of its commitment to people and shows the will to do more in coming times.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Garkot, after being accorded a grand reception by the people there, the Minister said the fact that infrastructure development and social upgradation have taken place in recent years is irrefutable and visible on the ground and needs no arguments. He said that sectors like health, education, power, rural development, social welfare etc have seen massive infatuate being raised and their networks being expanded.
Mr. Taj said the Government has been equally committed to empowering people at the grass root level. He said Panchayat elections were successfully conducted and functions of about 14 departments were transferred to newly constituted Panchayats. He said some path breaking laws like RTI, PSGA, Vigilance Commissions etc were enacted to infuse transparency and accountability in governance. He said many services in the Government have been made time bound and a citizen can seek penalty if that service is not provided to him or her within that time schedule.
Mr. Taj said the Government made a historic law under which water usage charges to the tune of Rs 1100 crore would be realized by the State Government. He said in addition to this many ambitious projects like beautification of Jehlum River, construction of Ravi Canal, artificial lake in Jammu etc were taken up by the present Government. He said the Water Resources act enacted by the Government was later enacted by 8 States.
Responding to the development needs of Uri, Mr. Taj said the power and drinking water facilities have been extended to around 98 per cent of the population. He said a network of primary schools, Anganwari Centres, Health Centres etc have been set up in Uri area besides laying a huge network of roads there. He said it is his vision and dream about Uri to let it compete it with some of the developed areas of the State.
For this, Mr. Taj asked people the support him as they have been doing in the past.
Former Legislator, Abdul Rashid Dar, besides S S Chani and Abdul Gani Khan also addressed the public meeting.