Srinagar, Jul 18 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has sought progress report from all the crucial departments over the targets achieved in the past three months in Kashmir in a bid to ensure good governance and implementation of all Centrally sponsored schemes.

Reliable sources told KNS, after receiving back to back reports followed by serious complaints from various delegations that many major schemes in the State were running at snail’s pace because of the official apathy and callous approach of some officials in the State administration, the Governor Malik pulled up the Heads of all the crucial departments and sought reports on the progress achieved on the development fronts.

“Yes, Governor Malik is very serious about some unjustifiable delays in implementation of prestigious and flagships schemes by various departments in Jammu and Kashmir and has sought reports within fortnight in a move to plug the loopholes,” he said.

The officer told KNS that the move comes after the strict direction from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his June 26 visit to Kashmir that the benefits of all the schemes should reach “poorest of the poor.” “There are clear directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs to J&K Government headed by Governor to monitor and ensure proper implementation of schemes especially those related to development scenario of the State that has bore the brunt since last near three decades,” he said.

An official in the Rajbhawan told KNS that the schemes and the departments that are on the monitoring radar of the Governor include Roads and Buildings, Agriculture including Crop Insurance, Compensation wings, construction of flyovers, hospitals, maternity care, and construction of road links. “The schemes that are being monitored include Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), old age pension, pension for widows and destitute,” he said.

The official said that a major project in Srinagar that is the construction of old-age home for the elderly who are left out by their families is also being monitored by the Governor. “There is a strict direction that delays won’t be tolerated as they lead to cost escalation and make people suffer,” he said.

Sources said that the major focus of the Governor is to ensure timely completion of all the ambitious projects in the State and also the poor are benefited through various schemes meant for them. (KNS)