Commissioner Secretary, Information and IT, Prerna Puri, today informed this while addressing a mammoth public darbar held at DC office complex. She took stock of issues and concerns of public importance besides assessing progress on various vital development and welfare schemes being implemented in the district.
Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Minhas, SSP, Shivdeep Singh Jammwal, ADDC, Ankur Mahajan, BDC Chairperson Kathua, BDC Chairperson Marheen, BDC Chairperson Barnoti, DDC member Nagri, DDC member Dhar Mahanpur, among representatives of various delegations were present on the occasion. The public darbar witnessed overwhelming public response who apprised the Commissioner Secretary of issues being faced by them, seeking intervention in redressing the same.
The DDC delegation, on the occasion, submitted a memorandum of demands concerning power supply, healthcare and vacant post of sports teacher in Dhar-Mahanpur besides development of a Digital Model Village in Hiranagar.
Similarly, issues raised by the BDC members concerning their respective areas included allotment of suitable land for CFC in BDC Kathua constituency, development of tourist circuit in border blocks, road connectivity, mobile connectivity in Marheen, land erosion in Ujh catchment area, approval for utilization of Own Resources Funds, repair of hand pumps, restoration of RTIC head at Pipli, exemption of stamp duty for area outside industrial estates, early approval of RDSS works, enhanced allocation under City and Town programme etc.
A delegation of Ex-Servicemen also presented their issues and demands including renaming of Kathua Railway Station after Kirti Chakra Awardee, Captain Sunil Chaudhary besides highlighting the issue of setting up of a War Memorial in Kathua and construction of compound wall, lanes in Zila Sainik Welfare Office.
Likewise, a delegation of senior citizens from Housing Colony Kathua apprised the Commissioner Secretary regarding various issue like installation of street lights and utilization of civic amenities. Other issues highlighted in the public darbar included monkey menace, construction of check dams in marheen, easy mechanism for updation of ration cards etc.
Prerna Puri, while interacting with line departments, called for adopting a time bound redressal mechanism in resolving the issues of public importance by making optimum utilization of available resources. Commissioner Secretary, while addressing the gathering, said that their grievances and demands shall be brought into the notice of concerned departments for timely redressal.
She reiterated the commitment of the UT government for ensuring holistic development in villages, underscoring the administration's focus on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other key sectors. The Commissioner Secretary further directed DC Kathua to work out the scope of enhancing the city beautification as Kathua serves as the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir and gives an eclectic impression about the UT.