| Khatana holds Public Darbars at Mandi, Mangnar, assures strict action over lapses | | | Early Times Report POONCH, Feb 20: Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha, Nominated), Er. Gulam Ali Khatana, held Public Darbars at Tehsil Headquarters Mandi and Mangnar in Poonch Rural today, where he listened patiently and attentively to the grievances of the local population in the presence of district administration officers. During the Public Darbar, residents expressed deep anguish and dissatisfaction, stating that despite the passage of decades, they continue to be deprived of basic necessities of life. They alleged that the government machinery has failed to pay adequate attention to their pressing concerns and that the benefits of various centrally sponsored welfare schemes have not reached the deserving beneficiaries on the ground. The people highlighted serious shortcomings in essential sectors. They reported an acute shortage of doctors in hospitals, lack of adequate drinking water facilities, insufficient teaching staff in schools, and a severely deteriorated power supply system. Locals stated that despite assurances of 200 units of free electricity, they are receiving electricity bills amounting to thousands of rupees while facing prolonged power outages. The condition of roads was described as extremely deplorable. Residents pointed out that the road connectivity from Mandi Tehsil Headquarters to Loran, Sawjian, Arai, Baila, Sathra, and Salonia is in a highly damaged state, which has reportedly resulted in numerous tragic accidents and loss of precious human lives. The public also raised serious concerns regarding the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, alleging that its claims remain hollow on the ground. They demanded a high-level inquiry into all Jal Jeevan Mission projects in the area to ensure transparency and accountability. Furthermore, the people stated that Mandi Tehsil possesses immense tourism potential, comparable to Gulmarg, yet it continues to be ignored by the Jammu & Kashmir administration. They emphasized that proper development of tourism infrastructure could become a major source of livelihood for the local population. Addressing the gathering, Er. Gulam Ali Khatana assured the people that their grievances would be taken up at the highest levels and resolved on priority. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, numerous welfare schemes have been launched for the upliftment of every section of society, and any official found guilty of withholding or mismanaging these schemes will face strict action. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that development reaches the last person in line and that no citizen remains deprived of basic rights and government benefits. Among those present during the Public Darbar were BJP District President Gurdeep Singh Safra, BJP ST Morcha State President Chaudhary Abdul Ghani, Haji Mohammad Ashara, Madan Lal (Pradhan), along with several prominent BJP leaders including Rajesh Raina, Sunil Sharma, Mehtab Bukhari, Azhar Manhas, Sanjay Kesar, Ranjeet Sharma, and Vikas Sharma, besides senior officers of the district administration and a large number of local residents. |
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