Srinagar: The government Thursday sought explanation from the heads of various departments who remained absent from the Kupwara District Development Board at SKICC.
Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, who is also chairman of District Development Board Kupwara, took strong notice of absence of HoDs and deferred the meeting.
The minister was supposed to review the development activities of Kupwara district at SKICC Srinagar. However, the meeting was deferred after Minister observed the absence of many HoD’s from the meeting.
The HoDs had sent their subordinate officers for the meeting. Few officers remained absent citing health issues while some said due to restrictions they were not able to attend the meeting.
Kashmir News Service (KNS) had first reported that the government had deferred the DDB meeting after finding the officers absent.
Zulfkar, who was accompanied by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Abdul Haq Khan, later sought explanation from the officers regarding their absence and asked them to report in his office on Friday.
“The aim of convening meeting in Srinagar is just to ensure presence of HoDs in the meeting but it is unfortunate they are not present here too,” he added.
He said the review meetings of District Boards are the priority and an officer cannot skip it at any cost. He said in future only HoDs will be allowed to attend review meeting and no representative will be allowed.
Minister said this callous attitude is the mockery of the system which will not be tolerated at all.
According to the officers who were absent from the meeting include Director Tourism, Director Youth Services and Sports, Director General Fire Services and Managing Director JKPCC.
Earlier Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Kumar Rajeev Ranjan informed the minister that 58 percent of total allocated budget for the current financial year stand expended.
DC Kupwara informed the minister that Lolav-zungli byepass, Badpura Bridge and Children’s park Langate has been completed and may be inaugurated next month while Hapat’naar Irrigation Tank and SDH Sogam will be completed by the end of December.
The minister was informed that this year R&B completed construction of ten bridges, JKPCC constructed seven bridges and under RAMSA Scheme thirty buildings were constructed in education sector.
He asked the concerned to maintain close coordination with each other so that incomplete projects will be completed well in time. He asked officers to expedite the work so that works can be completed before winter.
Minister said the working season of the valley is up to December as the last quarter of the year witness harsh winter in the valley due to which works are not possible. He asked officers to complete targeted works of the year before winters. (KNS)
