Kupwara July 01:(KNS) The Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today visited Handwara sub division of frontier Kupwara district during which the Advisor carried out series of inspections of various developmental works followed by meeting  with the DDC Chairman and members, PRI’s and the District Administration to review the Covid containment measures. 

The Advisor on his arrival visited Covid Care Centre Unisoo and took stock of the facilities there. He inspected 6.3 MVA Receiving Station at Pohru coming up at a cost of Rs.3.80 crore. 

The Advisor inspected fencing work of Astan Mohallah School coming up at a cost of Rs.3.89 lakh and also inspected walling of Gurduwara Gadibal Chowgal costing Rs.2.88 lakh under Back to Village Convergence programme. The Advisor also inspected De-siltation of irrigation khul  namely Margat khul in Maidn Chowgol Panchayat Halqa. On the occasion, the advisor informed that Rs 2.11 Lakhs are being spent on the de-siltation process and 600 Man-days of work have been generated so far. The Advisor directed the ACD to strictly follow time schedules for payments to the labours under MGNERGA.

 Later, the Advisor convened a joint meeting of Administration, District Development Council chairman and members, PRIs and Officers at Environment Hall, Handwara. 

The Advisor urged upon the administration and officers to ensure frequent visits of Rural areas to resolve problems of the people at their door steps, adding that because of Covid restrictions Rural populace face inconvenience in meeting the Administration for resolution of their grievances. 

The Chairman District Development Council (DDC), Irfan Sultan Panditpori; Vice Chairperson, DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir; Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Imam Din; DDC Members and BDC Chairpersons of Handwara sub division; ADC Handwara, Nazir Ahmad Mir; President MC Langate; Officers of the District Administration; President Traders Federation Handwara and other concerned  attended the meeting.

The Advisor said that the objective of his visit to the area is to personally review the Covid containment measures and to take stock of development issues relating to Power/ water supply, agricultural operations and rural development works.

Advisor Baseer Ahmad  Khan directed all concerned officers associated with Covid duty, especially doctors to make people aware of the importance of vaccination and dispel the rumours spread by rumour mongers attempting to vitiate the Covid Containment measures. He directed the officers to ensure people participate in the vaccination drives once they are given to understand the benefits of vaccination. He said the vaccination drive should be focused to achieve 100 percent coverage of people above 45  year old and impetus to rope in people between 18 to 44 year old should be accelerated.  He said, “Government with the support of public has been able to substantially contain the COVID pandemic , however there is no room for complacency and for lowering the guard. He emphasised that every action and activity has to be carried out subject to adoption of Covid appropriate measure and protocol. 

Regarding availability of oxygen and other Covid related facilities, the Advisor said that oxygen plants and other facilities were established at the right time. The Oxygen plants were received within one day from Frankfurt, Germany with the kind intervention of Hon’ble Prime minister and Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor. The Advisor added that at present there is enough stock of oxygen, vaccines and other supplies in the Union Territory to fight the Covid pandemic. 

The Advisor directed the officers and field functionaries to keep all representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions updated with activities being carried out in their respective jurisdictions. He exhorted upon the DDCs, BDCs and other PRIs to monitor the works of departments at ground level. 

The Advisor directed the Superintending Engineer, Power to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all Covid facilities including Covid hospitals and Covid Care Centres. He also directed the ACD to ensure timely payment of wages to the labourers under MGNREGA. He directed the health department especially doctors to sensitize and motivate the public about the benefits of vaccination and adherence of Covid appropriate behaviour. 

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner apprised the Advisor about the Covid Containment measures and said that the district has registered 97% of Covid recovery rate, adding that, with the active support of officers of administration, police and PRIs, the vaccination has progressed from 18% to 64% between the two visits of the Advisor. He said in Kupwara district there ware total 13799 positive cases out of which 13366 have recovered leaving 269 active cases. He also said that the district has 136 patients under home isolation while as only 17 patients are under hospital isolation. 

The Advisor also solicited feedback from the PRIs during which Chairman, District Development Council, Irfan Sultan Panditpori and Vice Chairman, DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir apprised the Advisor about the Covid containment measures and other development issues of the district. DDC members of various blocks of the sub division Handwara also spoke and familiarised the Chair about the developmental issues of their respective constituencies. During the meeting series of demands were raised by DDC members, various Public representatives to which the Hon’ble Advsior assured that each demand will be looked into and follow up action shall be taken.

The Advisor assured the PRIs that he will visit again to the district to have a separate meeting for review of developmental activities of the district.