Rs 16.74 cr utilised to complete 2619 works in Budgam during 2017-18

Srinagar, Oct 31:  An amount of Rs 16.74 crore was utilized so far to complete 2619 works under different schemes during the current fiscal year in central Kashmir district of Budgam.
      An official spokesperson here this evening said that that out of the Rs 16.89 crore annual budget, the Rural Development department has spent Rs 16.74 crore on the development works in the district so far.
      He said that the department has achieved the target of 99 per cent of development works during the ongoing 2017-18 financial year across the Budgam district.
      “The department has generated 763000 as person days work for the unemployed of the district so far under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), while as the target was 600000 person days for the first quarter,” he said.
      Under the physical target, he said that 4204 works have been taken up out of which target of 2619 works has been completed during the current fiscal by the department.
      Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, he said 265 beneficiaries have been allotted Rs 1.32 crore in the first allotment for the construction of houses.
      Meanwhile, Minister for Rural Development, Abdul Haq Khan on Tuesday reviewed the progress of various developmental works taken up by the Rural Development Department in Budgam.
      The Minister took the block-wise review of developmental works being carried out under schemes including MGNREGA, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Rural Sanitation and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). 
      The Minister directed the concerned officials to accelerate works under the rural sanitation and 14th financial commission.
      He said that Jammu and Kashmir was ahead of other states in the development work carried under various schemes of the department.
      However, the Minister stressed on the construction of Water Harvesting Tanks to raise the water level in hilly areas during dry spells from the next revised MGNREGA plan.            
   The Minister also urged the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam to facilitate and to ensure synergy between related departments.
      The Minister urged the concerned to conduct fresh survey about the implementation of Open Defecation Free (ODF) scheme in the district.
      He also urged the authorities to leverage social media to reach out to the public highlighting their performance and achievement.
      While lauding the role of staff, over the construction of a bridge at an estimated cost of Rs 4 lakh in Nagam block, Minister announced special award for the Sajad Ahmad as Technical Assistant for his tremendous work on the project.