Ensure robust winter preparedness: CM to Budgam admin

Budgam, Dec 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday directed the Budgam district administration to ensure full winter preparedness so that the people of the district do not face any inconvenience in terms of electricity, ration supply or snow clearance during the coming months.
He issued these directions while chairing a detailed district review meeting in Budgam, where the entire developmental scenario of the district was assessed threadbare.
The meeting was attended by Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana and Javid Ahmed Dar, Speaker Legislative Assembly Advocate Abdul Raheem Rather, who represents Charar-i-Sharief constituency in Legislative Assembly, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and MLAs Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi (Budgam), Ali Mohammad Dar (Chadoora), Shafi Ahmed Wani (Beerwah) and Saif-ud-din Bhat (Khan Sahib).
Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Bilal Mohi-ud-Din, Heads of Departments, district officers and other concerned officials were also present.
At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner Budgam gave a detailed presentation on the status of the Capex budget under UT and CSS, the district’s winter preparedness measures and the stock position of ration and LPG. He also briefed the meeting about the status of Constituency Development Fund and MPLADS, besides providing updates on both financial and physical achievements in major projects under Public Works (R&B), Jal Jeevan Mission and various other departments. Department-wise progress was shared in respect of Jal Shakti, Power Development Department, NABARD, Rural Development, Labour & Employment, Health and Medical Education, School Education, Social Welfare, Youth Services & Sports, Agriculture and allied sectors, Animal Husbandry and other departments. Chief Minister assessed the progress of development works across the district and issued necessary instructions during the course of the meeting. He laid special emphasis on winter preparedness and asked the administration to take extra care on this front. He noted that last year the winter management had been widely appreciated as power cuts were kept minimal despite harsh weather, and expressed hope that this year too the district would maintain the same performance.
However, the Chief Minister expressed concern that snow clearance last year had suffered due to lack of coordination between different agencies. He pointed out that often various stretches of connected roads are being maintained by multiple departments, resulting in only partial clearance as each agency clears its own portion and leaves the remaining unattended. He directed the district administration to evolve a mechanism for coordinated snow clearance, for appointing a nodal officer if necessary, and ensure that entire roads are cleared end-to-end regardless of whether these fall under PMGSY, R&B or any other agency. He said that people must not suffer due to administrative overlap.
Referring to developmental works, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the district had faced delays due to two months of the Model Code of Conduct and procedural issues of financial approvals. He nevertheless urged the administration to make the best possible use of the remaining working months—December, January, February and March—while ensuring that expenditure is made responsibly and not merely for the sake of spending. He said it must be ensured that no funds lapse and that the money spent translates into visible public benefit.
Speaking on employment generation, Omar Abdullah reiterated that unemployment cannot be addressed solely through government jobs. He said the administration must reach out to youth, publicise the success stories of Mission YUVA and encourage more young people to take up self-employment and entrepreneurship. He stressed that such schemes must be taken to the grassroots so that their benefits reach the maximum number of people.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of timely expenditure under SASCI, noting that nearly 80 percent of the funds under the scheme are required to be spent within a specified time frame to avoid forfeiture. He instructed the Deputy Commissioner to review SASCI progress at least three to four times a month and push departments wherever necessary so that the required expenditure is booked in time and the district continues to receive funds under the scheme.
Responding to the specific issues raised by the MLAs in the meeting, Omar Abdullah directed the administration to immediately examine the concerns highlighted regarding the Chadoora Bridge and to expedite the creation of the required civil infrastructure for the installation of the CT scan machines so that these facilities become operational at the earliest. He assured them that the upcoming budget would be framed with their inputs and that ongoing works would be accelerated. He reiterated his commitment to working jointly with elected representatives to resolve public issues, saying there would be no shortcomings in addressing genuine demands of the people.
Earlier in the meeting, the MLAs had raised several developmental issues pertaining to their constituencies and sought intervention for timely resolution. The Chief Minister assured them that all genuine issues would be taken up on priority.
Later, the Chief Minister interacted with Mission YUVA beneficiaries and handed over sanction letters amounting to Rs 46.04 lakh. He also released financial assistance worth Rs 353.44 lakh under various welfare schemes of the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board in favour of 7,593 registered construction workers of district Budgam.