STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: To highlight various key issues related to Rajouri and Poonch, BJP senior leader and MLC Vibodh Gupta on Wednesday called on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and discussed issues related to overall development of these districts. While informing the chief minister about the unemployment problem in Rajouri and Poonch, he demanded that 20 per cent job reservation should be provided to the local youth during recruitment for various vacancies at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) at Rajouri. He brought to the notice of Chief Minister that during recent recruitment of various positions at the university there is hardly any representation of local youth. He said there are many highly qualified youth in Rajouri and Poonch and they must be given reservation in recruitment at BGSBU. Vibodh also informed Chief Minister that Doongi block has already been given the status of a Tehsil and now this needs to be executed on priority. While discussing various tourism promotion projects, Vibodh demanded special tourism development projects for Law Wali Bowali, Dani Dhar Fort, Mankote Park, Chingus Fort and Veerbudshewar Mandir. Vibodh also highlighted the problems being faced by the residents of Rajouri and Poonch due to power cuts. He proposed to the Chief Minister that a special grid station using the new transmission line from Punjab to Kashmir via Rajouri may kindly be established at Rajouri. For this project, Vibodh demanded an allocation of Rs. 400 crore.
The other key issues include 5 per cent reservation to the Pahari community of State, Rs. 30 lakh for completion of auditorium of Pahari Hostel at Rajouri, etc. “In 2005, 118 teachers on ReT pattern were appointed under SSA on contractual basis in State but after that no effort was made to regularise these teachers.
These should be regularised on priority”, he urged to Mehbooba Mufti and demanded boys hostel for Pahari students at Jammu as the present facility is being operated at a rented building. He also demanded release of teachers list of remaining 156 candidates of Rajouri district selected in 2012 and later which is also approved by the Supreme Court. “In order to complete the existing sports stadium at Rajouri an additional allocation of Rs. 50 lakh is required. This amount needs to be released and an indoor stadium may also be constructed at Rajouri”, he demanded. Besides he demanded up-gradation of Rajouri – Thannamandi and Thannamandi – Bufliaz roads, multistory parking facility at the custodian land occupied by PDD office near bus stand Rajouri, upgradation of sewerage and drainage of Rajouri city and change in status of Rajouri Muncipal Committee to Muncipal Council.
He also demanded already prepared Pickanut project (a special variety of walnut) by horticulture department at Shahpur, Doongi and Manjakote, high tech Tourist Reception Centre with all the facilities at Rajouri, and Gandola project from holy shrine of Shahdara Sharief to DKG. Chief Minister patiently listened to all these proposals from MLC Vibodh and informed that many projects are in pipe line and other will also be considered on priority.
