SAMBA, NOVEMBER 19 (KNO) : Continuing with her Public Outreach programme, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti visited Samba and convened a grievances redressal camp here today. During the camp the Chief Minister listened to scores of deputations and hundreds of people who apprised her of their developmental needs and sought their redressal.
Minister for Industries & Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga; Vice Chairman, OBC Board, Rashpal Verma; legislators, Devinder Manyal and Kuldeep Raj were present in the meeting.
The deputations in general thanked the Chief Minister for reaching out to people to know their developmental needs and addressing them on spot.
The demands put forth by the deputations during the day long public outreach programme pertained to construction of flyover in Samba and Vijaypur towns, establishment of a women’s college in the district, early release of funds for the welfare schemes of SC and ST people, tackling the ill effects of pesticide industries and other forms of industrial pollution, an employment drive for the border people besides other incentives for them, construction of overhead bridges on the Railway line and strengthening of the district hospital. The other issues raised included payment and rent enhancement of the land under the occupation of Army and other para military forces,
A deputation of members of Bar Association demanded construction of more chambers for lawyers, setting up the court of Additional District Judge, space for setting up more courts and upgradation of the Bar library. They also demanded construction of an auditorium in the town and flyovers on the Lakhanpur-Vijaypur stretch of National Highway.
The Chief Minister announced release of Rs. 10 lacs for upgradation of the Bar library. She also directed exploring the possibility of construction of an auditorium in the town.
A deputation of Amar Khishtriya Rajput Sabha demanded conservation of the Samba fort, strengthening of local district Hospital, making the new bus stand functional.
The Chief Minister directed release of Rs. 20 lacs for the upgradation of District library in the Samba fort besides other conservation activities at the fort.
Deputations of various political parties demanded pacing up of work on the AIIMS at Vijaypur, augmentation of drinking water facilities in the town and kandi belt, construction of over bridge at various crossings on the Railway line, development of road through Phase-I and II, rotation of reserved constituencies, strengthening of the local hospital and enhancement of space at the local Higher Secondary School.
Mehbooba Mufti directed release of Rs. 50 lacs for construction of additional accommodation at the local Higher Secondary school. She also directed release of Rs. 25 lacs for setting up a transformer buffer in the district. She also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Samba to submit a list of crossings on the Railway line where the over bridges are sought to be constructed. She also directed release of Rs. 15 lacs for improving the X-ray facilities in the District hospital.
A deputation of Auqaf Islamia, Samba sought construction of building for the IT College for which land has been identified at Ismailpur besides demarcation of the Wakf land in the district. They also suggested construction of a water park on the 38 kanal Wakf land at Channi Manasa near Hotel 17 Miles. They also sought construction of Banquet Hall/Shopping Complex on Wakf land in Ramgarh.
The Chief Minister directed release of Rs. 20 lacs for starting construction of IT College at Ismailpur.
Various deputations of Gujjar Bakerwal community demanded connectivity to ST habitations in the district like Badakhad to Shahtalab, Sumb to Chinori, Barjani Talab to Upper Meem Sarkar and other road stretches. They also sought establishment of model ST villages, development of playfields and augmentation of drinking water facilities in their localities.
A deputation of farmers sought taking steps for reclaiming land damaged by soil pollution and compensation for the crops damaged in the floods of 2014. They also sought insurance cover to farming community and introduction of organic farming in the area.
A deputation from Ramgarh area sought waiving off of loans under Kissan Credit Card scheme and restoration of power distribution network in Pakhdi village of the area. They also demanded construction of road from Chak Nakka to Pakhdi via Kole Pur.
Mehbooba Mufti directed release of Rs. 40 lacs for improving the power distribution system in Keem and other adjoining villages. She also directed release of Rs. 25 lacs for restoring power distribution network in the Pakhdi area and Rs. 50 lacs for establishment of a receiving station at Nud.
A deputation from Chammb sought payment and enhancement of compensation for their land under the occupation of Army and other security agencies. They demanded devising a special recruitment drive for the residents of border areas besides other incentives for the people living in border areas.
Deputations from Utterbani, Parmandal, Chamliyal, Benbla, Khara, Katian, Gagwal, Mansar and other areas also met the Chief Minister during the camp. They hailed her for reaching out to them and listening to their demands.
The Chief Minister listened to the demands of the deputations throughout the day and it continued till late in the evening. In many of the cases Mehbooba Mufti gave on spot directions for the redressal of the grievances which was hailed by the deputationists.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. M K Bhandari; IGP Jammu zone, Dr. SDS Jamwal; senior officers from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Planning Department; heads of several Departments; Chiefs of many Engineering wings; DIG, SKR, Rafeeq ul Hassan; Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda; SSP, and officers of District administration were present on the occasion.
This is the second public outreach programme of the Chief Minister in the Jammu province. Earlier, she conducted a similar public outreach programme at Ramban.
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.
So far Mehbooba Mufti has conducted such programmes at Pulwama, Kupwara, Budgam, and Baramulla in Kashmir Valley during which hundreds of people apprised her about their problems and difficulties (KNO)