*DC interacts/ listens public at snow capped Athkhar Valley; Similar Camps held at 4 locations across District.* _Village Surveillance teams/ Common man must feel responsibility for reporting any abnormal activity – SSP_ _’Askini Utsav’ to be held in the last week of February in Bhaderwah- DC_ *Huge tourist footfall expected this year; Bhaderwah to prepare for intime- DC*

Doda, February 01; UT administration has taken multiple campaigns/ initiatives wherein administration reaches to the people at their doorsteps to assess the disparities in development, listen to the public aspirations and plan out a holistic programme to address their genuine issues and aspirations. Block Diwas program is one among them which is held at various designated locations every Wednesday in district Doda.

 

This week Block Diwas program was held at four different locations in the district. The locations include; Atkhar Valley, at Government Higher Secondary School Sartingal, Sub District Bhaderwah; Sub Divisional Headquarter, Sub Division Gandoh; Block Headquarter Assar, Sub Division Assar; and Boys Higher Secondary School Thathri, Sub Division Thathri.

 

Deputy Commissioner Doda Vishesh Paul Mahajan, along with SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom, ADC Bhaderwah Chowdhary Dil Mir, BDC Chairperson Omi Chand, DDC Councillor Thakur Yudhvir Singh, and other District officers interacted with the PRIs and general public in snow capped Atkhar Valley at Government Higher Secondary School Sartingal, Bhaderwah.

SSP Doda, while speaking to the gathering, said that village surveillance communities have been established to strengthen the security system in the district, especially in the rural areas. He asked that everyone must feel his responsibility to report any abnormal activity or any suspicious person in his area to control and check any untoward incident in the area. He also spoke of drugs abuse, traffic rules, violations, and other like issues.

 

DC informed the audience that the administration has planned to hold two day’s mega tourism activity “Askini Utsav” in the last week of this month in Bhaderwah Valley. District Administration is optimistic of having a huge footfall of tourists during Askini Utsav and tourism season this year. DC urges the public to make all preparations before the tourist season this year for maximum benefit. He stressed on protecting forests, wildlife, natural beauty and above all communal harmony in the area, as all of them contribute to the Tourism Sector and economy of the region. He also highlighted the efforts of District Administration in bringing transparency, accountability and better public services delivery mechanism for its citizens in the district.

 

During public interaction, PRIs and the public put forth the number of demands, including road for Noorie Draman, widening of road at Sartingal Town, repair of irrigation canal, metadoor stand at Sartingal, completion of Basti Road, link road to Nalthi Village, Bumlakni villages and Sherekhi village, additional staff for schools and health care institutions, payment of land compensation, issuance of timber to the houses to be constructed under PMAY, etc. DC has issued instructions to the concerned authorities for the time-bound redressal of the grievances/ issues raised in the Block Diwas program here.

 

 People in large numbers attended the Block Diwas at other locations also and demanded up-gradation of local infrastructure in the Health, Education sector besides extension of road connectivity, water and power facilities in the area. During the programme, demands regarding macadamisation of roads, execution of works under MGNREGA, upgradation of electric poles, among others were raised by the participants. 

 

 The Block Diwas mechanism has been instrumental in bridging the gap between people and administration. The Presiding officers of the Block Diwas gave patient hearing to the issues and demands and directed the concerned officers to prepare a list of issues/grievances raised pertaining to their departments and resolve the same at an earliest.