Guv tells legislators to spread awareness about local polls

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 10

Governor NN Vohra has called upon the legislators to spread awareness about the importance of the forthcoming elections to municipalities and panchayats. He said the polls would promote the establishment of grass-roots level democracy.

The Governor made the comments during an interaction with MLAs and MPs at Kulgam in south Kashmir on Thursday. An official statement said he took stock of security environment and the pace of developmental works in the district.

He impressed upon all divisional and district officers to translate government’s policies into action and to timely prepare for the upcoming panchayat and municipal elections. He directed the district and block-level officers to reach out to the people at the grass-roots level and visit each village to address the problems of the people.

In his meeting with the state, divisional and district heads of all major departments, the Governor was briefed by Deputy Commissioner Shameem Ahmed on the progress of various developmental works in the district. The Governor asked Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to explore and evolve a concrete action plan for the rapid expansion of horticulture, dairy, fisheries, sheep husbandry and industry after being informed about the scope of development in these sectors in the district. The Chief Secretary said efforts would be made to introduce a concept of Farmer Producer Organisation in the state.

Reviewing the health sector, the Governor directed the Director General Health Services, Kashmir, to immediately start a dialysis centre at District Hospital, Kulgam, under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme.

Vohra ordered an immediate release of Rs 2 crore with the direction to make the Kailamgund Ashmuji bridge functional before November-end. He also released Rs 4 lakh for running a counselling and coaching centre for IAS/KAS and other such examinations.

To address the challenges posed by unforeseen circumstances and to plug critical infrastructural gaps, the Governor announced a Special Development Plan of Rs 2 crore each for the four districts of south Kashmir.