Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today held a comprehensive district review meeting at the conference hall Samba to take a first-hand appraisal of the overall development scenario in Samba district.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary; Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma; and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani. Also present were Chairperson, District Development Council (DDC) Samba; Members of Legislative Assembly S.S. Slathia (Samba), Chander Prakash Ganga (Vijaypur) and Devinder Kumar Manyal (Ramgarh).
Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Heads of Departments and other senior officers also participated in the review meeting.
Addressing district-specific concerns, the Chief Minister urged the administration to expedite the pace of developmental activities and ensure that benefits of growth reach every household. “Officers must ensure time-bound completion of all projects, remove bottlenecks, improve public service delivery and maintain high standards of quality in execution,” the Chief Minister asserted.
Taking note of key issues raised during the meeting, the Chief Minister directed immediate redressal and resolution of matters flagged by the MLAs. He further instructed that all concerns raised be verified on priority and necessary corrective measures taken without delay.
Emphasising a focused approach towards employment generation, the Chief Minister underscored the importance of promoting entrepreneurship, particularly under Mission YUVA, and strengthening Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to make women more economically independent. “Empowering youth and women is central to sustainable and inclusive development,” he said.
With regard to projects under SASCI, the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to fast-track their execution and ensure periodic reviews to monitor progress and address impediments in a timely manner.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of effectively resolving public grievances raised by DDC member and MLAs, directing the administration to maintain close coordination with public representatives to ensure responsive governance.
During the meeting, several other issues were highlighted, including drinking water supply, sanitation, regularisation of daily wagers, upgradation of schools, establishment of colleges in remote areas, implementation of industrial policy, and shortage of staff in hospitals and educational institutions. The Chief Minister assured that all genuine concerns would be examined and addressed in a timely and systematic manner.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Ayushi Sudan, presented a detailed district profile, outlining sector-wise targets and achievements across departments such as Jal Shakti (PHE), Public Works (R&B), Power Development, Education, Health, Agriculture and Social Welfare.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also e-inaugurated developmental projects worth ₹533 lakh, including: Improvement and upgradation of link road from Panchayat Ghar Chak Slarian to Ramloo at Tara Resort (length 5.85 km) under NABARD at a cost of ₹311.66 lakh; and Construction of link road at Village Chak Nazir (length 2.50 km) under NABARD at a cost of ₹221.54 lakh.
Moreover, the Chief Minister laid the e-foundation stone for the construction of a 100-metre span footbridge over River Basanter at Banab, to be executed under NABARD at an estimated cost of ₹198.38 lakh.
The Chief Minister complimented the district administration for its proactive role during last year’s crisis situation and said that the district has shown considerable progress in respect of several developmental parameters.