GANDERBAL: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan Monday chaired a meeting to take the first-hand appraisal on the follow-up action on the directions passed by Chief Secretary recently regarding various developmental projects in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.
The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner Bandipora Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Hashmat Ali Khan, SSP Ganderbal Khalil Poswal, ADDC Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir, CPO Ganderbal, Heads of Several Departments, Joint Director Planning Bandipora Imtiyaz Ahmad, and other concerned.
On the occasion, the DDCs of both the districts presented a detailed account of various developmental works under different sectors and briefed the chair about the progress on the implementation of several projects recently discussed with the Chief Secretary. They also briefed about physical and financial achievements made under different schemes and flagship programmes.
DDC Bandipora informed that 89.75 per cent of total allocated budget for the district was utilized during the last financial year. He informed that three Auditoriums are under construction at HSS Dawar, HSS Kaloosa and one at Degree College Sumbal and are expected to be completed soon.
The Divisional Commissioner directed both the district heads to prepare a calendar of activities for initiating educational and co-curricular activities in the already available auditorium that include screening of educational and other theme based documentaries for the benefit of the general public.
With regard to the Solid Waste Management, DDC Bandipora informed that 92 Kanals of land has been identified for establishment of Solid-Waste Management Project on cluster basis at Sumbal. He said the existing dumping site near the Wullar lake has been closed and a new patch of 30 Kanals of Land has been identified at Zalwan Bandipora for dumping of garbage till the project at Sumbal is approved.
It was given out that at Ganderbal 25 Kanals of land has been identified at Safapora for establishment of SWMP. Divisional Commissioner directed to expedite the work for early establishment of waste management projects.
The DDC Bandipora also highlighted the requirement of manpower at the 50-bedded Maternity and Childcare Hospital at Sonarwani being constructed under CSR funds (KGHEP ) at a cost of Rs 18 crore while the DDC Ganderbal informed that a proposal for up-gradation of Maternity and Child Care hospital Kangan has been formulated at the cost of Rs 3.60 crore.
DDC Bandipora stated that an action plan of Horticulture expansion has been framed for an amount of Rs 245.50 lakh for 2019-2020 and Rs 673 lakh for 2020-21 and several projects will be taken up under this action plan including establishment of High Density Apple Orchards, Fruit Mandi, Walnut Germ Plasm Bank, Hi-Tech Apple Nursery for propagation of plants, Moderate Density Orchards in Gurez and Fruit and Vegetable Craft Centre besides establishment of Cold Storage in PPP Mode.
DDC Ganderbal informed that an action plan of Rs 286 crore for Horticulture sector has been formulated for 2019-20 and Rs 621.50 lakh for 2020-21 and several projects including establishment of grape model village, cherry model village, fruit preservation craft centre and refrigerated vans for transportation of perishable fruit crops will be taken up under this action plan which will give fillip to the sector in the District
A separate action plan of Rs 611 crore has also been formulated by Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department Bandipora that will include setting up of two Milk Vending Machine at Bandipore, Installation of LN2 Plant for AI coverage and establishment of YAK Breeding Farm at Gurez at the cost of Rs one crore.
A project costing Rs 2.30 crore has also been formulated for establishing five different projects in Ganderbal to uplift the Animal Husbandry sector
Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan directed the officers to take measures for marketing of the surplus milk produced in the district so that the farmers are benefitted
Khan also took stock of the 23 identified vacant school buildings in Bandipora district and 37 in Ganderbal district and directed to utilize the buildings for other purposes including setting up of infrastructure of revenue offices on priority.
The meeting was informed that electricity has been provided to 259 schools so far while work is on to provide in 167 left out schools while water supply has been provided in 419 schools and toilets in 466 schools out of the total 493 Government schools of the Bandipora district. He appreciated the Ganderbal district administration for completing the target by providing basic facilities to all the schools of the district.
Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora to personally monitor the progress on works and set a deadline of one month to complete the left out works so that 100 percent schools are provided basic minimum facilities.
He also directed to identify potential tourism spots and take steps to bring them on tourism map besides promoting adventure tourism in both the districts including trekking, rafting and other activities.
He also directed to expedite work on formulating a comprehensive Plan for beautification of Bandipora and Ganderbal Towns that shall include Parks, Bus Stands, Parking Lots etc. The meeting was informed that land has been identified for establishment of gym and 8 kanals for establishment of Children Park at Saloora Ganderbal.
The meeting was further informed that 52 Kanals of land at Ajas Bandipora have been identified for development of industrial estate while 50 Kanals have also been identified in Achoora Gurez for development of industrial estate. Land measuring 100 kanals have also been identified in Ganderbal for establishing small scale industries.
With Regard to the Rural Development Department, Divisional Commissioner stressed on regular monitoring of works and feedback from the general public. He stressed on maintaining close liaison with the Panchayat representatives and directed to assign Panchayats to officers so that regular feedback is obtained. Khan also directed to hold public darbars to take the governance at the doorstep of the public.
The Divisional Commissioner also stressed on the completion of Srinagar-Bandipora road on priority. He was informed that tenders for Macadamization of 50 Kms roads under State Capex Budget (C&T), annual repair Plan, is at final stages while work on two roads has already started besides work will start soon on the other roads. The meeting was informed that 43.54 kms road is also proposed to be macadamized in current financial year in Ganderbal District.
Emphasis was laid on the removal of encroachments from state and Kahcharai land. The Div Com directed Deputy Commissioners of both the districts to personally monitor the anti-encroachment drive and report the same to the office of Divisional Commissioner regularly. He directed to prepare a list of prime encroachments including that of commercial establishments so that eviction can be started at earliest.
The meeting also discussed the Flood Management Action Plan for the current financial year. The Divisional Commissioner directed for audit of embankments of water bodies to identify the vulnerable areas so that the same can be plugged at earliest.