Comm’r Secy vows to address dev issues in Shopian

Shopian, July 24: Commissioner Secretary, Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad on Wednesday convened a public outreach programme at Shopian to take on the spot assessment of the public issues and grievances for resolution.
The public darbar, being held under the J&K government’s ambitious initiative to redress public grievances and demands, witnessed overwhelming participation of locals and various public representatives and individuals.
The delegations comprising members from the District Development Council, fruit growers, traders, industrial bodies, social activists and individuals from across the district projected various welfare and developmental requirements and flagged issues and grievances about different departments.
The major developmental issues highlighted included the development of new parks along Mughal Road, Pinjoora, Shopian Town, and Batmuran, augmentation of sports, educational, health and fire services infrastructure, better intra-town transport services, revision of the Master Plan for Shopian Town and drainage development, increasing coverage of deserving under PHH category and ATM facilities.
Other issues highlighted included the establishment of GDC in Keller, road works and macadamisation, water supply issues, filling up of vacant posts in health centres of the district including the posting of Specialists at DH, irrigation facilities and restoration and maintenance of canals, construction of soil testing labs at the block level, pesticide quality control, amenities along Mughal Road, tourist promotional events and the establishment of public libraries.
The Commissioner Secretary directed the concerned departments to ensure vigorous follow-up on all the public grievances and issues highlighted during the public darbar.
He said all public welfare and development issues have been noted for redressal and asked for immediate redressal of routine issues at the district level. Issues of public requiring decisions at higher authorities shall be taken up with them, he assured.
Sheikh Fayaz reiterated the government’s commitment towards enhancing public services and ensuring an effective and responsive administration for the people of the district. He underscored the importance of public outreach programmes in institutionalizing an effective feedback mechanism.
“Earlier, people used to visit offices for grievance registration and redressal, but now the entire administration from top-level officers to field officers are touring the villages and districts to meet people and listen to their issues and concerns,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb, deliberated on various issues highlighted in the previous public outreach camps, which were redressed promptly. He apprised of the efforts being taken up by the district administration in addressing the pending public welfare issues.
Traders Federation, Shopian, complemented the district administration for resolving many of the core issues like providing optimal water supplies and other amenities in Shopian town.
Others present on the occasion included various DDC members besides district and sectoral officers.