 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 19: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Dr Rakesh Minhas chaired Block Diwas at Bhalwal on Wednesday, hearing out grievances of the residents and issuing directions to officers on several pending development works.
Among the announcements, he sanctioned Rs 20 lakh additional funds for urgent development works in block schools. The grant, he said, would cover immediate development needs of local schools, including ground preparation at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Gharota. For Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), he directed PDD functionaries to take up upgradation of the power transformer.
He informed the gathering that the tender for Ghaink-Aghore road has been issued and that work on some of the vital roads in the block is set to commence tomorrow.
Demands for development of ponds were noted. The ACP was directed to inspect the sites. Health-related concerns and a request for improvement of the local playfield were also taken on record, with necessary directions issued.
The DDC referred to the ongoing Nasha Mukt JK Abhiyan, noting that structures built with proceeds of the drug trade continue to be demolished, with 40 residential and commercial structures razed in the district so far. He asked the public to remain vigilant and report drug-related information.
Responding to other demands, he said a procedure has already been started to resolve issues related to ration cards. On PDD and Jal Shakti Mission grievances, he said the Gharota tubewell, ready for operation, would be made functional through alternative arrangements.
Tehsildar Bhalwal was directed to facilitate conferring of ownership rights on West Pakistan Refugees and Displaced Persons of 1965 & 1971. He said last year's flood-related compensation has been paid, with further compensation to follow as per government directions. Issues concerning the local shamshan ghat, patwarkhana and local transport were also addressed.
Major issues raised included PMGSY road repairs, power outages affecting water supply, pond development, health services and school upgradation.
ADDC Sher Singh, SDM Jammu North Dr Deepak Kumar, CPO Ajaypal Singh, Assistant Commissioner Development Danish Rasool, Assistant Commissioner Panchayats, Block Development Officer and other district officers attended, along with a large turnout of residents and former public representatives. |
