Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Jal Shakti, Shaleen Kabra, presided over a Public Darbar at community hall, Hiranagar today where he listened to the public grievances. Chairman District Development Council Kathua, Col (Retd) Mahan Singh; Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rakesh Minhas; Vice Chairman, DDC among representatives of various delegations were present on the occasion.Active participation from PRI members and various delegations characterized the program, where they informed the ACS about crucial developmental requirements in their respective areas.
DDC Chairman highlighted demands including construction of DDC Office building, early completion of Juthana Bridge, Sukrala-Machhedi road, dhaggar road link, Katli-Lohai Malhar and Sukrala-Machhedi Roads links, opening of new Kendriya Vidyalaya in Marheen and Ramkot etc.The Vice Chairman DDC demanded Auditorium and provision of a new fleet of Jal Shakti water tankers for smooth drinking water supply in uncovered pockets.
The DDC and BDC members put forth the issues concerning their respective areas like road connectivity, devising of robust mechanism for flood prone and affected areas near water bodies, filling of vacant posts, special package for border dwellers, opening of more mining blocks to cater demands, early completion of PHC Barwal, widening of BPP Sanyal- Hiranagar post Jasmergarh road, restoration of train stoppage at Hiranagar railway station etc
Similarly, a delegation of Sarpanchs also presented their issues and demands, including special recruitment for border youth,border tourism, crop compensation, monkey menace, replacement of worn out electric wires and poles, supply of fertilizers etc.
Responding to the highlighted issue of water scarcity in border villages, ACS called upon the concerned department to explore the scope of the lift irrigation scheme so that surplus water can be channelised for irrigation needs of the dry pockets of Hiranagar.
Deputation from Industrial Units demanded rezoning hiranagar from present A category to B category besides giving exemption of stamp duty and court fees to the industries establishing outside industrial estate.
Regarding the demand of augmentation of transportation facilities in border areas, the ACS directed DC Kathua to look into the matter and explore the possible solutions to facilitate border residents. Other representations of Beopar Mandal, Border Welfare Committee, Prominent citizens and individuals were also registered during the Public Darbar.
ACS while addressing the gathering, said that holding a public darbar is a serious effort of the government to assess the ground realities by listening to the issues of the people at their doorsteps. He assured people that their demands shall be brought into the notice of concerned departments and assured them of proper action and timely redressal of their grievances.
Shaleen Kabra, while interacting with line departments, called for adopting a time bound redressal/execution mechanism in resolving the issues of public importance by making optimum utilization of resources.The Deputy Commissioner Kathua assured ACS that that all the highlighted issues will be redressed by the concerned authorities in a time bound manner.
Later, Shaleen Kabra visited B.O.P Chak Changa to see Wheat Crop sown recently across zero line at International Indo-Pak border of Hiranagar sector. ACS appreciated the efforts of District Administration, BSF and Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Kathua in motivating the farmers of border villages for bringing their land under cultivation.
He assured the farming community of all possible help in sowing crops besides giving continuous support to the farmers in making it a regular affair.