Kishtwar, Dec 21: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday called for expediting the speed of ongoing hydel power projects, saying these plants will generate an estimated capacity of 8000 MW, enabling J&K to emerge as the biggest power hub of North India.
Chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee Meeting (DISHA) here, Dr Singh called upon the National Hydro Power Corporation Limited (NHPCL) to undertake capacity building of local unskilled labour to increase their employability for projects requiring specific skills and specialised training.
Deputy Commissioner, Rajesh Kumar Shavan, local MLAs and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and district officers were present at the meeting.
Reviewing the status of projects aimed at boosting connectivity in the district, the Union Minister called for expediting the construction of a full-fledged airstrip in the district under Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). The facility aims to improve connectivity for the population living in tough terrain.
Reviewing the status of works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMSY) and Jal Jeevan Mission, Dr Jitendra urged that the concerned departments, including R&B, need to work in close coordination with the public representatives for speedy and better execution of projects.
Calling for bridging the communication gap, he said the district administration must follow a Standard Operating Procedure for sharing information with the PRIs during field visits conducted by officials. “Inputs of PRI representatives should be taken by the officials for effective implementation of the works,” he said.
Noting the negative impact of some of the infrastructure projects on the health of common citizens due to pollution and land degradation, the Union Minister instructed the officers to put in place an arrangement for carrying out a dynamic exercise as regards environment clearance granted for these projects. “It must also be ensured that the best practices are adopted for the protection of the environment and public health,” he stressed.
Expressing concern over some public servants, such as doctors and teachers, quitting their jobs without following due procedure, Dr Singh said a uniform policy needs to be firmed up under which if these civil servants, relinquish their posts, they must be made to provide hefty compensation to the government for putting citizens to inconvenience. “The proposed policy is the need of the hour to avert a crisis across departments emanating from the dearth of staff in future,” he said.
Dr Jitendra directed the district administration to organise mass awareness camps highlighting the benefits of lavender, Ayushman Bharat scheme and PM Surya Ghar Mutt Bijli Yojana. In a similar vein, he called for promoting Sansad Khelkud Spardha to develop sporting talent among the local youth and also pitched for branding local products, such as cumin seeds and saffron.
“A saffron park will come up in Kishtwar soon,” the minister announced. He also called for further exploration of the world’s finest sapphire discovered in the mines of Paddar area in the district for the generation of additional revenue and the creation of more employment opportunities for the local youth.
