Budgam: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmed Khan, today visited Doodhpathri and its adjacent areas in order to have an on spot status of ongoing projects.
He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza, Director Tourism, G N Itoo, Director Rural Development, Tariq Ahmed, Chief Engineer KPDL, Aijaz Ahmed Dar.
The projects he reviewed included budgeted accommodation at Tangenar T20 hotel, hutment area 2nd at Shaliganga, Playground at Tangnar Raiyar under RDD, Augmentation of receiving station at Khansahab.
Advisor Baseer Ahmed Khan also inaugurated Cafeteria at Nambelhar constructed by Department of Tourism. The Advisor during his inspection of these places and spots directed concerned executing agencies to accelerate the pace of work on all the projects and complete the construction expeditiously keeping in view the impending winter season.
Asserting upon the basic facilities, the Advisor said, Doodhpathri is an emerging tourist destination and the government is working on all fronts to provide advanced facilities for the comfort of tourists visiting this place. He said focus is on to improve the electricity supply and efforts are on to install and introduce all requisite infrastructure before the onset of winter. He said to boost the transmission supply this year the damaged and rotten electric poles, conductors and wires are being replaced on war footing basis across U.T of J&K.
The Advisor instructed the officers to frame the plans for renovation and upgradation of the facilities in the area to give boost to tourism. He laid stress on setting up of facilities including parking, public conveniences, shelter for Ponnywalas, installation of ATM’s, mobile connectivity towers and health care facilities.
The Advisor said that the area is turning into the main attraction for the tourists and in order to provide best services to the tourists a robust telecom and internet connectivity is required. The Advisor asked the officers to identify the facilities already available in these areas that could be outsourced and come up with a plan in this regard.
Commenting upon resources at tourist destinations, the Advisor emphasized that the existing infrastructure needs further maintenance and up-gradation to attract more footfall of tourists. He however outlined that the preservation of Ecology and Environment along with development has to be given the paramount preference. He further said that Master plan should be framed after careful examination and thorough scrutiny.
The Advisor interacted with PRI’s and scores of delegations. Reacting on the main demand put forth by most of the delegates regarding lack of communication facility, the Advisor said that the matter will be taken up with Lieutenant Governor at an earliest and all the agencies providing the facilities shall be contacted and directed to have the survey and installation of services done as soon as possible.
Another demand that remained the focus of PRIs and general public was regarding the facility of play fields in the area. The Advisor gave on spot directions to the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam and Director Rural Development to identify the places where state land is available and immediately initiate the process of constructing play fields. The Advisor also visited under construction play field at Tangenar and directed the concerned to initiate process of its expansion and its beautification. The Advisor further directed to identify labour intensive works in upper reaches of Doodhpathri to ensure sustainable livelihood earning for inhabitants.
The Advisor while deliberating on Covid-19 status advised the people to adhere to all mandated SOPs. He said Covid Appropriate Behaviour needs to be made a part of life as the danger is not over yet and in this regard, cooperation by public is the key to stop the spread of Covid-19. The Advisor urged upon senior citizens, Imams, PRIs being elected representatives to come forward and use their influence in spreading the message about the Do’s and Don’ts related to COVID-19 pandemic. The Advisor outlined the importance of PRIs and by referring them as eyes and ears of U.T administration in stopping spread of Covid-19. The Union Territory of J&K is one of the top performers in containment of COVID-19 as an effective network of health infrastructure has been put in place right from Panchayat level in form of Covid Care Centers, the Advisor emphasized.
Later, the Advisor had a public interaction session at Tangnar Raiyar where huge gathering of locals as well as people from adjacent areas including Poniwalas, seasonal tea stall owners, shopkeepers and other concerned had assembled to apprise the visiting authority about grievances they are facing with regard to some basic amenities particularly improvement and widening of road approaching Doodhpathri, establishment of PDD Substation, improvement in power supply, communication facility, installation of ATM at Doodhpathri and other demands.
Responding to the issues the Advisor reiterated that “aim and objective of his visit was to ascertain ground situation and all the genuine issues and grievances registered shall be taken up on priority and in most of the case the Advisor gave on spot direction for redressal.
The public interaction was also attended by DDC Member Khansahab Bashir Ahmad Bhat, ADC, SDM Khansahab, ACD, CMO Dr. Tajamul and other District and sectoral officers.
Advisor Khan also inspected Rural Development works. He directed the officers that timely payment of wages to workers engaged in rural development activities and identification of labour-intensive works should be the top most priority so as to ensure economic upliftment of beneficiaries, the Advisor said.
