Speed up developmental works in rural areas: Chief Secretary directs RDD

JAMMU, DECEMBER 31: Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today directed Rural Development Department to pull up their socks and meet annual Capex targets for sustainable, people-centric development targets.

He made this observation while reviewing the Capex of the department in which the Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department, and other senior officers of the department were present.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that tendering is followed in all works in the department and all administratively approved and technical sanctioned works are allotted expeditiously in a transparent manner.

Dr. Mehta directed the department to meet the target of 30000 works under Capex and saturate all the eligibility cases under PMAY-G with the first installment by the end of the current fiscal year.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to cover all villages under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) during the current year besides targeting 4 lakh Mahila Kissans under Mahila Kissan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana Scheme (MKSPS) in the next year for creating sustainable livelihood options for women in the rural areas.

In her presentation, the Commissioner/Secretary of Rural Development Department informed that the ongoing departmental works both in the category of non-convergence and convergence works will be completed during the current fiscal year.

It was further informed that Rs. 40 Cr has been sanctioned during the year 2021-22 for the construction of residential buildings of DDCs/BDCs and all efforts will be made to complete the 68 works taken up during the current year.

On MGNREGA works, it was informed that 86 % of the released funds have been utilized and 215 lakh person days have been generated during the current year.

Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, the department informed that although69161 houses out of 137986 houses have been constructed till now, all-out efforts will be made to meet the annual target by March-end next year.

Under Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), it was noted that 98% expenditure has been made under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) and 10636 IHHLs and 322 community sanitary complexes (CSCs)have been constructed so far during the current fiscal year.

MD SLRM Informed that under UMEED Scheme, 6810 Self Help Groups have been mobilized against the target of 11000 Self Help Groups (SLGs) and 91.48 % expenditure has been incurred during the current fiscal year.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to prepare a compendium of fully functional 3000 Panchayat Ghars with geotagged photographs. He further directed the department to ensure that all Panchayat Ghars were supplied with computers by the end of January next year.

Dr. Mehta asked the department to explore the feasibility of setting up of CSCs at bus stands and village /sub-urban markets so that their maintenance is ensured through an aggregator approach.

In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, YSS informed that while 118 works out of 534 approved works have been completed so far, the remaining works will be completed by the end of the current year.

It was further informed that J&K has 18 playgrounds, which have floodlights.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that at least one playground in every district has floodlights.

In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Department informed that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) had sanctioned 19000 Solar Street Lights and all 19000 SSLs stand installed.

30186 Solar Home Lights have been distributed by JAKEDA under PMDP in remote villages/hamlets of the UT at a total project cost of. 20.22 Cr.

It was further informed that the Ministry has sanctioned 5000 Solar Agriculture Pumps under the PM-KUSUM scheme at an estimated budget of Rs. 135.96 Cr for installation during the years, 2021-22 and 2022-23.

He further informed that MNRE has sanctioned 54 MW Rooftop Solar Power projects under Achievement Linked Incentive Scheme and 8.5 MW aggregate capacity has been installed at 69 sites.

JAKEDA has also provided a solar power facility in 2227 Primary, Secondary/Hr. Secondary Schools of J&K under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan have an aggregate capacity of 7.90MW.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that all government buildings in Jammu City are provided with solar power facilities on a sustainable basis.

Dr. Mehta directed the department to explore the possibility of generating energy from biomass in Kashmir Valley, besides considering setting up one plant in J&K for fuel generation from plastic wastes.

He asked the department to think about providing Solar Light options in the Kandi areas.

Principal Secretary, Estates in his presentation informed that about equal number of heads of departments are working in both the capital cities of the UT and that after the practice of Darbar Move was stopped, work in offices across J&K is going on smoothly.

It was further informed that 5 ongoing languishing projects will be completed by the end of the current fiscal year.

It was further informed that the tenders for the outsourcing of sanitation work in the Civil Secretariat, Jammu will be floated in the next week.

Dr. Mehta advised the department to improve the aesthetics of the entrance of the secretariat by de-congesting the area in and around the lawns and reimagining the existing landscape design so that the front yard of the secretariat becomes aesthetically pleasing.

The Chief Secretary asked the department to examine the feasibility of accommodating KAS trainees/health department officials/employees of JaKeGA on merits under an institutionally approved framework in the recently vacated housing units/quarters in J&K.