RAMBAN, DECEMBER 12 (KNS): Apni Party Vice President and Former Minister, Aijaz Ahmed Khan has expressed concern over failure of the Jal Shakti Department and NABARD for their inability to provide drinking water supply in remote villages in Sumber village, Jowari and other areas of the district.
Addressing a public meeting at Sumber village, the Former Minister said that the people are suffering from basic amenities with very slow pace of developmental works as the water supply issues in Jowari upper reaches remains unaddressed by the Jal Shakti Department and the schemes of NABARD are also not being implemented by the contractors.
He said that the electricity issues of the rural population should be addressed by supplying them with electricity from the Railway Grid or Sangaldan Grid wherever the villages are electrified.
“We need to find a permanent solution to end the power crises in the villages. The authorities should re-think on the issue and redress accordingly with the involvement of stakeholders,” he said.
“Revenue settlement should be re-started in view of grass errors in many areas as reported by the people that their areas remained untouched in Revenue Village Sumber,” he said.
To address the issues of the public, he said that a special revenue camp should be held for the revision of settlement to rectify the grass errors in the revenue village Sumber.
He also referred to the railway station’s construction yard due to which the basic amenities have been affected and the administration should press the concerned company to restore the disrupted water, electricity and other amenities to the people.
He further demanded that the Govt High School Sumber should be upgraded to Higher Secondary.
Besides, he demanded reconstruction of Govt High School Sumber which has been dismantled after it came under the alignment of railway Construction Company. The said building should be reconstructed and made functional before the next session i.e., March because the students are attending classes in the makeshift shelter.
He said that the tribal and other population is suffering because of poor implementation of the Forest Right Act in Sumber.
“The people, especially the tribals, are facing harassment from the authorities despite having claims and proof of documents. Hence, the Forest Right Act should be implemented on the ground in toto so that the deserving people should not be harassed for one reason or other,” he added.
Referring to the Other Backward Class (OBC) category people, he demanded that the OBC people should be given OBC certificate so that they and their children can avail the benefit granted to them under the OBC status by the Constitution of India.
He further highlighted his concern over the poor health and facilities in the rural areas of Ramban and demanded opening of a Primary Health Center at Sumber.
He also appealed to the LG administration to provide an ambulance to meet the health related emergency cases so that the serious patients can be shifted timely to the district hospital.
Meanwhile, he expressed concern over growing unemployment in the region even after the availability of the opportunities in the Chenab Region.
He said that “The Govt must ensure the employment of local youth in Jammu and Kashmir partially with reference to Chenab Valley where the hydroelectric projects and highway widening work is in progress.”
He also appealed to the Govt to settle the issue of the people so that they do not suffer anymore. He demanded construction of an alternative highway from Reasi to Nowgam via Sumber.(KNS)