MP Kashyap pulls up PWD for slow progress; reviews projects

Member of Parliament (MP) Suresh Kashyap on Monday chaired a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), where he reviewed the progress of ongoing development works and expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of road construction in the district. Kashyap directed Public Works Department (PWD) officials to provide updated and complete information in the next meeting.

Emphasising that the benefits of Central government schemes must reach the people, Kashyap urged officials to ensure active participation in developmental initiatives. He stressed that the collective goal is the all-round development of Himachal Pradesh and instructed Block Development Officers to promptly reopen rural roads damaged by natural calamities.

A progress report on roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was also presented. Kashyap directed officials to accelerate and complete works under PMGSY Phases I, II and III at the earliest.

During the meeting, officials shared updates from the Agriculture Department. It was informed that Rs 34.99 lakh has been received under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, benefitting 957 farmers. Additionally, 1,221 persons are availing benefits under the National Food and Nutrition Mission, while 60 farmers are covered under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.

Under the National Project on Soil Health Cards, 4,530 individuals have benefited. Further, 560 farmers are covered under the Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material, 23 under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation and 30 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.

Officials also reported that 39,748 artificial inseminations have been conducted under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme. About 60 per cent of the National Health Mission budget has been spent so far this financial year, while Rs 9.96 crore has been utilised under Ayushman Bharat. Status updates on Himcare and Sahara schemes were also presented.

It was further informed that 58 projects under NABARD are currently underway in Shimla district, while 13 new projects worth Rs 141 crore have been approved for the current financial year. The MP sought detailed information regarding PM Shri Schools and Samagra Shiksha. Expressing concern over long-pending works under MNREGA, he directed officials to expedite their completion. Out of 1,63,802 MNREGA works started, 1,41,944 have been completed, while 21,858 remain pending. He instructed departments to submit reports on works that cannot be completed by the next meeting.

Kashyap also expressed displeasure at absenteeism during the meeting and ordered that a show-cause notice be issued to the Executive Engineer, PWD Theog, along with several other absent officials. “The officer must respond within 15 days explaining the reason for his absence,” he said.