KATHUA: District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal, conducted a day long tour of Tehsils Mahanpur and Basohli and CD Blocks Mahanpur, Dhar-Mahanpur and Basohli to inspect various works and hold public meetings.
Meeting with Sarpanchs of blocks Sheetal Nagri, Mahanpur, Basohli and Dhar-Mahanpur was organised at Basohli where PRI members from all the Panchayats participated. Issues related to flood relief, power and water supply, ration distribution, boring of hand pumps, crop damage, monkey menace, upgrading roads, provision of more buses and transportation facilities for students. Devolution of powers to PRIs was also discussed in the meeting.
The DDC informed that to strengthen the PRIs and ensure their participation in planning and development process it has been made mandatory for block level officers to convene monthly meetings with the PRIs for capacity building and grievance redressal. Senior officers of district administration have been appointed as Nodal Officers for each block and dates fixed for monthly meetings which will be reviewed at district level. He directed the officials of Agriculture and Revenue Department to complete the survey of crop loss reported due to drought prior to flood and furnish the report within one week for immediate compensation to farmers. Rs 8 lakh relief amount was also released to SDM for disbursal among the flood affected families. He also inspected the Basohli Painting Centre and assured immediate assistance for revival of the centre. A number of deputations from various areas also met the Deputy Commissioner and apprised him about different issues.
A meeting was also organised with the Booth Level Officers from 121 polling stations of Basohli, Billawar and Kathua Assembly Constituencies. The BLOs were directed for ensuring 100 per cent enrolment of eligible voters and furnishing a certificate to this effect. Polling Booth Area Teams (PBATs) constituted comprised of officials from Education, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Revenue and Election Department were also launched on the occasion. Awards for 13 best performing BLOs of each constituency were also announced on the occasion.
Later, the DDC convened a meeting of block level officers and reviewed the sector wise performance. He directed the officials to remain available at respective stations for providing services and grievance redressal.
Assistant Commissioner, Anshul Garg, SDM Basohli Gurmukh Singh, XEn PDD, XEn PHE, XEn PMGSY, XEn PWD, CEO and other senior officers of district administration accompanied the DDC.