Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said, bringing governance at the doorsteps of the people, to the last man in the last queue is possible only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose endeavour has been after sworn in as the Prime Minister of India in 2014 to address the people’s issues on the spot through ‘Public Darbars’ with district administration. Dr. Jitendra Singh said this while attending a ‘Public Darbar’ at Hiranagar outside district headquarters, Kathua.

During the ‘Public Darbar’ with district administration, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the governance cannot be restricted to the district headquarters only and a departure from this practice was necessary as has been done yesterday at Ramnagar and today at Hiranagar in order to listen to the people’s issues directly so that the same could be addressed on the spot with district administration.

Saying that the development has been brought to the last man in the queue under PM Narendra Modi, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the areas which were neglected earlier like the border districts under the previous governments have now become the role models for the country, the best example being the border district Kathua which is considered now the epitome of development and governance in the country.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it is for the first time after twenty years that hundreds of acres of border land have been brought under cultivation bringing back the lost smiles on the faces of border dwellers in Kathua which has been possible only under the present government which believes on the mantra ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ under PM Narendra Modi.

Enumerating the various development works done in Kathua, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, Kathua is now considered as the role model of development in the country as North India’s first biotech park, revival of Shahpur-Kandi project after 40 years, North India’s first ever Cable-Stayed Bridge Atal Setu, J&K’s first inter-State bridge at Keerian-Gandyal, North India’s first Express Road Corridor from Delhi to Katra via Kathua, the new National Highway from Lakhanpur-Bani-Basohli-Doda via Chattargala Tunnel, the mega quintal seed processing plants helping in doubling farmers income besides centrally funded Government Medical College, Centrally Funded Engineering Colleges, Degree Colleges etc., have made Kathua the epitome of development in the country.

The PRIs present during the meeting appreciated the work done by Dr Jitendra Singh as a Member of Parliament for the development of his constituency, be that the construction of border roads to the border areas of Kathua district, bringing of border land under cultivation, the construction of highways (Express Corridor) throughKathua district, the establishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas, GMC, Degree Colleges in the district, the various works done under JJM, Rural Development, PWD etc.

During the ‘Public Darbar’, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed certain issues on the spot related to the Delhi-Katra Express Highway like the land compensation, crossings at certain points for public convenience raised during the Public Darbar. The Minister directed the top officials of NHAI present during the public Darbar to speed up the work on the Express Highway and also look into the genuine issues raised by the public in a time bound manner.

The others present during the program were DDC ChairmanKathua, Col. Mahan Singh, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rahul Pandey, DDC Vice-Chairman Kathua, Raghunandan Singh Bablu, President MC Hiranagar, Adv. Vijay Sharmabesides BDC, DDC members, Sarpanchs and the officers of district administration.

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SNC/AP/MA