With prayers for peace, Mehbooba takes public outreach drive to Doda

Grants Rs 1.60 Cr for dev works, directs anti-encroachment drive

JAMMU: On the second day of her three-day long tour to Chenab region, Mehbooba Mufti ticked off yet another district- 13th of total 22, as she convenes grievances redressal camp at Doda, under her Public Outreach Initiative.
Mehbooba, who had taken her much-popular drive to Kishtwar a day before, started off the Sunday with paying obeisance at as many as four revered shrines in the hilly district, praying for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the directions to maintain a high level of cleanliness around these shrines, were passed on to concerned officials, illustrating the serious highly-administrative approach, the Chief Minister has maintained, throughout her visits spread across different parts of state, where she has taken her public outreach drive in past 85 days.
A couple of hours and sixty-odd Kilometers later, Mehbooba was back to what she has been doing ever since September 17- listening to public’s grievances at the very ground level- at Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora and Ganderbal in Kashmir Valley and Ramban, Samba, Kathua and Kishtwar districts in Jammu province.The Chief Minister listened to the demands of over 100 deputations she met throughout the day and it continued till late in the night. In many of the cases Mehbooba Mufti gave on spot directions for the redressal of the grievances which was hailed by the deputationists.
She also announced a grant of over Rs 1.60 crore for development works in Doda on Sunday.
The demands put forth during the day long camp included construction of Doda-Kapran road via Dessa to connect the district with Kashmir Valley, installation of street lights in the towns and promotion of Doda and Bhaderwah on the tourism map of the State. They also demanded setting up of a skill development institute for training manpower for the upcoming power projects in the region, establishment of a women’s college in the town and early completion of Ganpat bridge.
Several deputations from Doda and Bhaderwah towns sought promotion of these areas as tourist destinations which would help in strengthening local economy by a great measure. In particular they demanded promotion of Lal Draman and Dal Draman to attract tourists. They also demanded a ban on green felling in the area and launching of an anti-encroachment drive by the district administration.
The deputations also sought establishment of a women’s college in the town, enhancement in the quota for Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna, installation of street lights, shifting of office of DIG, Doda-Kishtwar range to Doda and early completion of Ganpat bridge.
The Chief Minister directed release of Rs. 35 lacs for installation of street lights in the towns of Doda, Bhaderwah and Thathri.
A deputation from Marmat area demanded construction of Humbal-Dedni road, setting up of a Herbal Research Centre in the area and establishment of micro projects over Raggi nallah.
A deputation from Bhalessa sought intervention of Chief Minister in redressing problems in power distribution in the area.
The Chief Minister announced release of Rs. 50 lacs for construction of receiving station at Kilotran to address the power distribution issues of the adjoining areas.
Several deputations from Thathri demanded improvement in drinking water facilities and upgradation of road networks in the area.
The Chief Minister announced release of Rs. 20 lacs for upgradation of three roads of the area.
A deputation from Kastigarh sought repairs of the Kastigarh irrigation canal and upgradation of Kastigarh-Daru road.
The Chief Minister directed repairs of the canal and announced Rs. Five lacs for improvement of the Kastigarh-Daru road.
The Chief Minister also announced release of Rs. 30 lacs for completion of Etwas water supply scheme in Jodhpur area and Rs. 10 lacs for renovating the Community Centre building for housing the local school. She also announced release of Rs, five lacs for upkeep of Gatti-Gulaka road. She also announced release of Rs. 10 lacs for constructing building of Dessa Higher Secondary School.
A deputation from Assar demanded construction of road from Assar to Thanda Pani and inclusion of Patta village under electrification.
The Chief Minister directed release of Rs. 5 lacs for construction of road from Assar to Patta. She also directed covering the Patta village under electrification programme.
A deputation from Bhaderwah demanded early construction of Bhaderwah-Chamba and Bhaderwah-Basohli roads.
A deputation of specially-abled persons sought adherence to reservation quota for handicapped and organising special training courses for them.
Deputations of traders, engineers, youth groups and people from areas like Gandoh, Marmat, Bhalessa, Kastigarh, Beoli, Bhagwa also met the Chief Minister and sought redressal of their grievances.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr M K Bhandari; senior officers from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Planning Department; heads of several Departments; Chiefs of many Engineering wings; Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Bhawani Rakwal; SSP Doda, Mohammad Shabir and officers of District administration were present on the occasion.
The public outreach programmes launched by the Chief Minister have evoked an interesting response from the public who come up with their problems for an on the spot redressal.