Anantnag, Oct 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday directed the Deputy Commissioner and district officers to use the favourable weather to speed up execution of all sanctioned works in Anantnag. He said the outdoor working season is short and allocated funds must be utilised before the financial year ends.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a review meeting, the CM said the purpose of his visit was not just inaugurations but to review ongoing development works and issue directions to accelerate them. “The Deputy Commissioner’s presentation indicated that development was progressing satisfactorily,” Omar said, “However, two or three departments were identified where the pace of work needs to improve.”
The Chief Minister said nearly all MLAs attended the meeting and presented their constituents’ concerns, and the government would try to fulfil as many public demands as possible.
On the Maternity and Child Hospital, Omar said a proposal had been framed for the Janglat Mandi site, but the department has pointed out that the land earmarked there will fall short of the project’s requirements. “The funds are already in place; all that remains is finalising the land,” he said. Health Minister Sakeena Itoo could not attend the meeting, he said, but the government would sit down with the department to finalise an alternative location so that work could start at the earliest.
On the long-pending demand for a District Secretariat complex, the CM said almost every MLA had raised it, but there was no consensus yet on the location. One suggestion was to rebuild on the current Deputy Commissioner’s office premises, but that would require temporary relocation of administrative offices during construction.
Omar said he had asked the Deputy Commissioner to consult all MLAs, eminent citizens and members of civil society to agree on a feasible site. A detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared once the location is decided.
Asked about the Anantnag stadium, he said nobody had raised it during the meeting. “If a formal proposal comes through, we will certainly examine it,” he said. He added that he would answer only Anantnag-related questions, as issues such as the Ramlila Maidan event and Panchayat elections had no connection with the district review.
Earlier, the Chief Minister dedicated to the public and laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 52 crore. About 11 water supply schemes were inaugurated, including Jal Jeevan Mission schemes at Semthan (Rs 6.29 crore), Shoul Sarsuna (Rs 5.66 crore) and Chontipora Baghwanpora (Rs 5.08 crore). He also laid foundation stones for the upgradation of the Ashajipora–Donipawa road (Rs 3.61 crore) and a steel girder bridge over Nallah Brengi at Her-Kandiwara (Rs 3.18 crore).
The review covered health, education, roads and infrastructure, youth empowerment, food and civil supplies, power and rural development. He issued time-bound directions to accelerate industrial estate development, streamline social welfare assistance, strengthen LPG buffer stocks for winter, and improve physical and financial progress under key schemes, including SASCI. He also directed banks to streamline disbursements under Mission YUVA to help local youth set up their enterprises.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Jal Shakti Minister Javed Rana, Agriculture Production Minister Javid Dar, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs of Anantnag district and senior officers attended the meeting.
In a post on X, the Office of the Chief Minister said: “During his visit to Anantnag today, the Chief Minister dedicated to the public and laid foundation stones for developmental projects worth over Rs 52 crore, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to strengthening essential infrastructure and improving public services.”
