RAMBAN: District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary today reviewed the status and progress of key development initiatives in the district at a meeting.

The focus was on implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the status of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with a particular emphasis on daily achievements being made under Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) scheme and the status of electricity supply and curtailments.

The meeting was attended by district and sectoral officers, including the Chief Planning Officer, the Assistant Commissioner Development, the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, the Executive Engineer of JPDCL Electric Division, Batote and the Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department, Ramban.

Emphasis was laid on accelerating the execution of works under MGNREGA to ensure timely completion and maximum benefit to the rural population by generating an adequate number of man-days. The progress of Swachh Bharat Mission activities was also reviewed, with the DDC calling for enhanced efforts to achieve and maintain sanitation goals.

The Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) was directed to immediately convene a meeting with BDOs and mobilize all engineering staff and field functionaries to complete the estimation of all targeted 2,710 works, besides starting execution on all approved 889 works.

The DDC instructed the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACP) to expedite the progress on a saturation mode to achieve the set target of 1,700 SBM units during fiscal 2024-25, besides ensuring proper utilization of segregation and solid waste management sheds.

The Jal Jeevan Mission's progress was a critical agenda point, with daily achievements under FHTCs being closely scrutinized.

The DDC directed the Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department to ensure that all households receive functional tap connections promptly, improving water accessibility and quality for residents. The Executive Engineer was also directed to submit progress reports on all JJM and other projects of the Jal Shakti sector daily, and to provide a report on defunct hand pumps for their further maintenance.

Furthermore, the status of electricity distribution and the current scenario of power curtailments were discussed. The Executive Engineer, JPDCL, provided updates on efforts to minimize power outages and improve the reliability of electricity supply in the district.

The DDC underscored the need for cohesive and coordinated efforts among all departments to achieve the district's development objectives. The officers were instructed to address any bottlenecks hindering project execution and to maintain regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

The Deputy Commissioner highlighted various issues and directed the Chief Planning Officer (CPO) to foster sustainable development in Ramban and ensure that all government schemes are effectively implemented for the welfare of the people.