STATE TIMES NEWS KATHUA: District Development Council (DDC) Kathua Chairman, Col Mahan Singh held a Public Grievance Redressal Meeting at Baggan in the remote block of Billawar Sub District here today. During the meeting also attended by DC Kathua, Rahul Yadav; ADC Billawar, DDC members of Billawar namely Vikram Singh, Neeru Rajput and Narayan Dutt Tripathi, BDC Chairpersons Ashok Kumar, Nisha Devi and Rita Devi, the people of this remote area highlighted various issues including dilapidated condition of Billawar-Kathli Road, Baggan Road, Trimbali-Deotha Road and Katli-Malhar Road. They also said that there was only snail-pace progress in case of PMGSY roads in the area. The people also demanded that Tehsil Niabat and BDO Block offices be established in Baggan area instead of Billawar. They raised the issue of inadequate infrastructure in government schools despite good strength of students in absence of private schools in the area. They voiced the demand for establishment of Health Sub Centres, ITI for local youth, besides construction of bridges in hilly areas. Meanwhile, they raised the significant issue of evacuation notices to the farmers by the district administration despite the proper allotments having been made under the Roshni Scheme. The DDC Chairman after giving a patient hearing to the people said that this remote area of Baggan had always been ignored as its four Panchayats are in Basohli Assembly Consituency; 5 Panchayats in Billawar Constituency with its Tehsil and Block coming under Billawar despite the Constituency being Basohli. Due to the consequent chaos this area could not be developed appropriately. He said that all the issues highlighted by the people during the meeting will be taken up with the appropriate authorities and got resolved at the earliest. He said that the main purpose of holding such meetings is to take stock of people’s problems and get the same resolved especially in the remote areas that have been victim of neglect for over seven decades. The DDC Member also passed on instructions to the officers present in the meeting to initiate measures to address the highlighted problems at the earliest. He also appealed to the Govt to construct one National Highway connecting Bani with Billawar via Dheri Gala, and further to Kathua through tunnel Road underneath Balasundri hills. Meanwhile, the DC Rahul Yadav assured the people of the area that administrative machinery will leave no stone unturned in resolving their issues at the earliest.
