Peerzada Syed
Kupwara, June 07 (KNS): The recent government decision to announce relaxations for carrying out the developmental activities amid COVID-19 pandemic, has given lease of life to the already stalled developmental projects besides kick starting new activities in Kupwara district.
The lockdown announcement had severely hit the developmental sector even as the work season had already begun, leaving a number of ongoing projects unfinished and others new works in limbo.
District Administration Kupwara headed by Deputy Commissioner, Anshul Garg has so far issued permission for execution of 1270 different developmental works in the district.
Rural Development Department (RDD) has taken up execution of 452 different works including construction of link roads, foot paths, lanes, drains, irrigation khuls, streetlights, protection bunds, land leveling and public parks under MGNREGA.
These works are going on uniformly in all 26 blocks of the border district, Kupwara and a total sum of Rs.795.70 crore has already been released to execute the rural development works in the district.
During the current financial year, an amount of 1694.08 lakh has been expended on the execution of these works so far.
As many as 12,565 households were offered employment by engaging 20495 unskilled labourers and 1, 82,286 man days of work have been generated during current financial, a sum of Rs 204 is being paid per day per person (labour) as wages.
Moreover, 94 roads and bridge projects, 24 de-silting works, construction of 6 filtration plants, 14 substations, 63 school buildings, up-gradation of 3 vegetable markets and 3 water supply schemes and other miscellaneous works are under execution with different executing agencies in the district.
In order to execute these works smoothly within the stipulated time frame, as many as 342 engineering and supervisory staff are performing duties.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara said that the construction works are going on with strict application of standard operating procedures (SOPs) as laid down by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The procedures for maintenance of social distancing, usage of masks, sanitizers, self-hygiene and frequent hand washing are also being implemented to prevent transmission of virus.
In order to review the progress of development works carried out in the district, a joint meeting of concerned officers and chairpersons of Block Development Councils is also being held from time to time to clear issues, bottlenecks if any to yield better results at ground level.
The people across the district especially labour class have appreciated the decision of district administration to restart the developmental activities in the district which provided immediate succour to the labour class. (KNS)