Governance at people’s doorstep, Kupwara district administration visits Machil, oversees development

Machil (Kupwara), July 08 - In an effort to take development stream to the remotest corner of the state, the entire District administration led by District Development Commissioner, Mr. Showkat Ahmad Mir conducted an extensive tour of the Machil area. The step follows directions from the Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah to take governance to the doorstep of people and ensure development of near and far off areas equally.

MLA, Lolab, Mr. Abdul Haq Khan and all the district heads of departments accompanied the District Development Commissioner during the two day joint tour and visited villages of Machil area like Dudi, Dapple, Poshwari, Ring Bala, Ring Payeen, Chontiwari, Katwara, Misribhak etc. to inspect the development works executed by different agencies of Machil area. The area, it may be recalled, is 75 Kms away from district headquarters. 

During the tour, first of its kind in the district, the DC said he would make roaster of officers to visit these areas once in a month to oversee the performance of their respective departments in the area. In this regard he asked the Area development Officer Machil to submit periodic reports about the officers who visit these areas every month.

All construction works being undertaken in the area were inspected along with the village elders of the respective villages. People at these villages told the team of officers that road connectivity was the biggest hurdle to the development of the area.

 During the inspection the team was informed that an amount of Rs 9 crore have been utilized up to March 2009 on the ongoing projects of different sectors  in the Machil area and are aimed at providing  better infrastructure in this remote area by way of road communication, irrigation, power and health facilities  to the people. 

On the occasion, Mr. Khan, who represents Machil as part of Lolab assembly segment said that he would take up the metalling of Z- Gali to Machil road with the Chief Minister when he meets him. He asked the people to co- ordinate with the officers of district administration in their efforts for development of their area.             .

It was told that under NREGA 32 works at a cost of Rs 42.64 lakhs have been taken during last fiscal in the area and more works would be taken up during this year to provide maximum job days to people and so far 1000 job cards were distributed among people of the area. He said Rs 1.92 crore would be utilized in 8 villages of Machil under Backward Region Development Fund during next 5 years for upgradation of infrastructure base in social sectors. He said under the Rural Sanitation Programme 810 BPL families of Machil would be provided sanitation facilities during current fiscal.

 Later, an Awami Darbar was held at Machil by DDC to assess the grievances of the people followed by officers’ meeting which was attended by MLA and people of the area.