Examiner Bureau | Pulwama:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reviewed the developmental scenario in Pulwama and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 86 crore across the district.
During a review meeting, Abdullah took stock of progress in key sectors, including health, education, rural development, infrastructure, public works, power, water supply, horticulture, animal husbandry, tribal development and rural livelihoods.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Basharat Qayoom made a detailed presentation on the functioning of various departments and the progress of major development projects in the district.
The Chief Minister also heard issues raised by legislators from Pulwama and directed the concerned departments to take timely action on the matters brought before them.
Projects costing Rs 23.12 crore were inaugurated through e-inauguration. These included the NTPHC at Ratnipora, a water supply augmentation project at Ratnipora, PHC Newa, road restoration works, additional school infrastructure in Rajpora and Tral, the Milk Village at Sangerwani and a bridge over Lam Nallah.
Foundation stones were laid for projects estimated at Rs 63 crore, including road upgradation works, bridges over Romshi Nallah and Batagund, a pasteurised compost unit at Kakapora and a ruminant-cum-disease diagnostic centre at Pulwama.
Abdullah directed departments to expedite ongoing development works, particularly projects nearing completion, in view of the limited working season in the region.
He also stressed the need for timely physical and financial completion of projects being funded under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
The Chief Minister called for greater focus on value addition in the dairy sector, highlighting Pulwama’s potential for milk production alongside its established position in saffron cultivation.
He directed the concerned departments to formulate projects aimed at converting raw milk into higher-value dairy products and strengthen cooperative models for processing and value addition.
Such initiatives, he said, should help increase the income of dairy farmers and generate employment opportunities in the district.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs Hasnain Masoodi, Waheed ur Rehman Parra, Ghulam Mohuddin Mir and Rafiq Ahmed Naik, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta and other senior administrative officers attended the meeting.
