KUPWARA, October 02: Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste Saturday said that Kupwara district is the last district of J&K as well as country towards the border, as such needs special attention of Union Government to build its infrastructure and economy.
The Minister who is on two days tour to district as Prime Minister’s public outreach programme was addressing after inspection of under construction 500 bedded Associated Hospital for Government Medical College Handwara. He said that Handwara Medical College is one of the medical colleges out of 75 colleges across India approved by Union Government as part of upgradation of health infrastructure and health care facilities across the rural areas of the country.
The Minister stressed the need for construction of boundary wall around the hospital premises to protect the asset from any encroachment.
Responding to the demand of MRI unanimously projected by Deputy Commissioner and Public representatives, the Minister said that he will take up the matter of MRI with Health Minister at New Delhi and assured that the demand would be fulfilled on priority basis including other demands of the area. He said Government of India has already paying special attention towards the frontier district Kupwara and the district has been enjoying the fund flow under the Aspirational District status.
The Chairman DDC, Kupwara, Irfan Sultan Panditpori; Vice Chairman DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir; Deputy Commissioner and other concerned also spoke on the occasion and thanked the GoI for providing such a mega project in the sub division Handwara.
Earlier, the Minister inaugurated 4 Km Magam-Ucher road, constructed at a cost of Rs.3.96 crore under PMGSY project. The road will provide better connectivity to the habitants of Ucher, Magam and other number of villages.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din, DDC Nutnussa, Zahoor Ahmad, ADC Handwara, SP Handwara and other concerned officers were present at the occasion.
Later, the Minister convened a detailed meeting with DDCs, BDCs, PRIs, public delegations and party workers at Environment Hall Handwara.
The Chairman DDC, Vice Chairman DDC, DDC members and BDC Chairpersons spoke on the occasion and discussed developmental issues of their areas at length with the minister.
Most of the issues projected, include development of tourist resort Bangus, augmentation of water supply schemes, speedy construction of Baramulla-Kupwara four lane Highway, extension of railway to Kupwara district and other issues.
The minister stayed with the public representatives for hours together and heard them patiently.
The minister assured and reiterated Union Government’s commitment for overall development of Jammu and Kashmir UT, especially border and hilly areas of Kupwara district. He also assured them that all demands projected by the public representatives as well as delegations and party workers would be put forth before the Prime Minister of India for fulfilment, adding that the sole aim of public outreach programme is to assess the developmental scenario of the Jammu and Kashmir including border area of Kupwara district. He said that that he will also take up the matter of different demands with LG, Manoj Sinha for timely redressal of the grievances. He also said that every household will get tap water connection by ending 2022 as per the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission of Central Government.
