Veeri for spl focus on education, health projects

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, October 11

Minister for Public Works and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri today reviewed the functioning of the PW(R&B) Department in the Jammu division.

The meeting had a detailed account of all major initiatives being undertaken under the PMGSY, Nabard and Central Road Fund (CRF) schemes, including the present status of the projects, scheduled completion of projects, etc.

The minister gave deadlines for each project and asked for early completion of all public utility schemes like construction and renovation of bridges, buildings, colleges, roads, besides others. This would enable the department to hand over the completed projects to the agencies concerned at the earliest so that vital public utilities could be made available to the general public, he said.

Veeri asked the department to ensure timely completion of all projects with special focus on health and education ventures.

The minister passed instructions to all officials to take utmost care while preparing the detailed project reports (DPRs) for all future undertakings of the department so that issues like land acquisition and structure acquisition did not cause unnecessary delay in completion at the later stages.

Veeri instructed the officials to review performances of all private contractors engaged with the department. He directed the officials to take strict action against contractors who were causing unreasonable delays or subletting the work assigned to them or those whose quality of work was substandard.

It was informed in the meeting that mega projects initiated in the state under the CRF were in various stages of completion, many of which were expected to be completed within the next few months.

The minister reviewed the progress of each project in detail and asked the department to submit a comprehensive completion itinerary so that regular scrutiny could be done on these.

The mega projects include 200-bedded Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, new Medical College at Rajouri, Government Degree Colleges at Khour, Budhal and Surankote, Model Degree College at Mahanpur in Kathua, Government Polytechnic College at Chanderkote in Ramban and Trade Facilitation Centre at Chakan-Da-Bagh, Poonch.

While laying thrust on various public utility projects, the minister took district-wise project performance report from the executive engineers concerned. He said focused attention needed to be paid on projects under the Nabard Road Assistance as these cater to the underdeveloped, semi-developed and rural areas with emphasis on those located in the far-off parts.

With regard to the national highway projects being undertaken by the department, the minister said close coordination be developed for expeditious completion of these projects for convenience of traders, tourists and people alike.

The national highway projects under the aegis of PWD include 28-km stretch of the Jammu-Akhnoor NH-144A, 67.50-km stretch of the Domel-Katra-Reasi-Pouni NH-144 and 184-km stretch of the Batote-Khanabal NH-244.