District Development Council Kathua today reviewed the physical and financial progress under the District Development Plan 2023-2024 besides discussing the roadmap for formulating next year CAPEX here at its meeting chaired by the DDC Chairperson Mahan Singh.
DC Kathua Rakesh Minhas; Vice Chairman DDC, Raghunandan Singh; Chief Planning Officer, DDC members, XEN PDD, CMO, CEO, XEN PHE, XEN irrigation, XEN PMGSY besides other District officers attended the meeting.
At the very outset, ADDC Kathua Ankur Mahajan apprised the council about the status of the works being executed under different scheme allocations.
It was given out in the meeting that over 82% of the available funds have been utilised for the execution of 2632 works taken up under different sectors to augment the development infra in the district as per the plan laid out in consultation with elected PRIs.
DDC Chairman Col (Retd) Mahan Singh exhorted the executing agencies and PRI members to make concerted efforts to achieve the targets within timelines, further stressed on removing bottlenecks by timely anticipation in the matter.
Stressing the need for timely completion of the projects of critical importance, the DDC Chairman  called upon the DDC members to be the guardian of the projects allocated for Panchayats and Blocks since tenure of sarpanch and BDCs has already ended.
Earlier, the council members took appraisal of the projects taken up by RDD, Jal Shakti, PWD, PMGSY, Irrigation & FC, Agriculture, Horticulture, Health, Education etc and expressed satisfaction with the pace of works.
The council members also highlighted issues such as the demand of speeding up JJM works in Mandli, Nagrota Gujjroo and Dinga Amb blocks, augmentation of flood safety infra in Barnoti, early completion of hatli road by DDC Keeran Gandyal, coverage of twin unelectrified villages besides prioritising critical roads from each blocks while finalising PMGSY and NABARD plans.
The Chairman DDC Kathua highlighted the issue of worn out PDD infra including electric poles, wires and transformers which needs to be replaced by utilising RDSS funds.
Vice Chairman Raghunandan Singh made an appeal to the council members and Officers to sit and prioritize the work to be earmarked for the next fiscal plan. He stressed for allocating funds for plantation in respective blocks to encourage afforestation.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Dr Rakesh Minhas informed the house that Rs 70 lac has been expended to install and repair handpumps across the district to immediately give relief in water deficit areas. He also directed XEN PDD, PHE to take corrective measures on issues flagged by the council members.
ADDC Kathua suggested PRIs to give more focus on sensitising people to avail opportunities under HADP which provides avenues to embrace mix farming resulting in more revenue earning opportunities to farmers.
