Union MoS Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary reviews development works in South Kashmir’s Shopian

Kashmir News Trust #KNT

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary Thursday visited South Kashmir’s Shopian district to review the development scenario and implementation status of Central Sponsored Schemes and to listen to public issues.

While taking a review of the district development profile, the Minister stressed upon officers to provide more employment avenues to youth, give more focus on infrastructure development and promote entrepreneurship ventures so that more employment opportunities are provided to the youth.

While speaking on the occasion, he called for universal coverage of people in economically productive activities and said that employment creation and entrepreneurship should be the topmost priority of the administration.

Chaudhary also held a meeting and interacted with DDC, BDC members, MC counselors and other PRI members and listened to issues and demands put forward for consideration and appropriate action from the visiting dignitary.

DDC members took up the issue of low rates of apples, transportation, and marketing problems being faced by the transporters and growers.

Members sought a separate Mechanical Division for the district in view of the heavy snowfall in the district. They sought an Industrial Training Institute in the district, MSP for apple crop, implementation of Beti Bachao Beti Padoa (BBBP), University Campus / Women’s College, Maternity and Child Care Hospital, and increasing budget allocation of Municipal Council among other issues of public importance.

While interacting with the PRI members, he sought feedback from them about developmental achievements made in the district during the past few years and assured them that he will take up demanded issues with concerned for resolution.

On the occasion, the Minister laid e-foundation of three road projects namely Strengthening/Upgradation of Chitragam Heff including Heffkhurry Malderia Road, Strengthening/Upgradation of Amshipora Checki Mirzapur Sedow road and Strengthening/Upgradation of Pahalipora Naidgund Road, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,155 lakhs.

Later the MoS visited Fruit Mandi Aglar and met fruit growers, traders and transporters.

President Association speaking highlighted the economic significance of the Mandi and informed that the annual business turnover of the Mandi is around Rs 4,000 crore and about 10,000 persons are directly or indirectly employed with it. He sought the intervention of the government for making efforts for its betterment especially the construction of a flood protection wall around it.

While addressing the gathering, the Minister highlighted some of the priorities of the Central Government and progress made under various sectors including rail, road, and air connectivity and infrastructure development.

He especially mentioned watershed movements in the health sector of J&K made by the Central Government including the establishment of 2 AIIMS, 5 GMCs, road connectivity, good governance initiatives, and ushering of accountability and responsiveness in J&K.

Eight million people have visited J&K during the ensuing year and around Rs. 56,000 crore investment has been made in J& K is the yardstick by which to measure the progression of J&K to the higher echelons of prosperity, the Minister added.

DC Shopian on the occasion intimated that the construction of flood protection wall has already been sanctioned and work on it shall be started on priority.

Earlier, MoS stressed upon officers to disseminate maximum information about Govt. Schemes among people so that more and more people are benefited from the Central and UT Govt. schemes.

He also distributed sanction orders and keys of vehicles among beneficiaries of the agriculture and employment department under different schemes.

Earlier, Deputy  Commissioner, Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya welcomed the Minister and presented an overview of the district besides giving the status of mega developmental projects under execution in the district including Polytechnic College, JNV Aglar, Indoor Stadium, Shopian – Bijbehara Road, Transit Accommodation for migrant employees, Trenz Shiekh Pora Bridge, etc

Kumar also presented physical and financial achievements under the District Capex Budget of the last three years and intimated that 1,173 works out of 1,594 works have been completed till date during the current year in Capex Budget.

SSP Shopian, Tanushree, ADDC Shopian, Manzoor Hussain and other sectoral and district officers and officials accompanied him. (KNT)