Rather reviews development scenario in Budgam

SRINAGAR : Speaker Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Thursday chaired an extensive review meeting to assess the overall development scenario in Budgam district, with special focus on his constituency Charar-i-Sharief.

During the meeting, the Speaker conducted a comprehensive review of various departments including Rural Development Department (RDD), Roads & Buildings (R&B), Jal Shakti, Health, Education under District Capex and other sectors. Detailed discussion was held regarding the performance and achievements of the departments during the previous financial year as well as finalization of plan for the current financial year.

Reviewing the sector-wise progress, the Speaker sought updates on the ongoing works, utilization of allocated funds, status of pending projects and implementation of various government schemes in Budgam district, particularly in Charar-i-Sharief constituency.

While providing the abstract of works during 2025-26 and 2026-27 (ongoing) under different sectors, the CPO Budgam apprised that in total 730 works were approved during the previous financial year in Chrari-Sharief constituency, of which, 665 have been completed.

Regarding CDF, it was informed that 172 identified works had been identified by the MLAs, of which,160 have been approved and 67 completed. Similarly, in RDD, out of 1628 approved works 1533 have been completed. In R&B sector, Chrari-Sharief division, total 41 works have been approved and 30 have been completed during 2025-26. In Education, out of 97 approved works 24 have been completed so far. In Jal Shakti, a total 67 works have been approved in Budgam and Chadoora division, out of which 41 have been completed.

A detailed discussion was also held regarding restoration of Chadoora bridge which is a vital link connecting a vast population of the area with Budgam and other parts of Kashmir.

The Speaker directed the officers of R&B to expedite the restoration of this important bridge in order to mitigate the suffering of people. He also instructed the Engineers to keep the road leading to Bailey bridge on both sides in good condition for hassle free movement of vehicles.

The Speaker stressed the need for timely execution of developmental works and emphasized effective coordination among the departments to ensure that public welfare schemes reach the grassroots level efficiently. He directed the officers to prioritize the projects of public importance and maintain transparency, accountability and quality in execution.

The Speaker emphasized a “people-first” approach to governance. He issued firm directives to the concerned departmental heads to prioritize immediate redressal of public grievances and proactively resolve any administrative or technical bottlenecks hindering the completion of vital infrastructure projects.

“Our objective is to ensure that the benefits of development are not just statistics on paper but tangible improvements in the daily lives of our citizens,” said the Speaker. “Administrative hurdles must be cleared swiftly to ensure that essential services reach the doorsteps of the common man without delay.”

In a significant directive aimed at enhancing the grassroots representation, Speaker JKLA instructed the district officers to actively involve the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during the drafting and identification phase of developmental works.

The Speaker said that local representatives are uniquely positioned to identify the projects of high public importance. By collaborating with the MLAs, the administration can ensure that proposed works align with the genuine needs of the community and receive the necessary legislative approval and support to proceed without delay.

The Speaker reviewed the performance of all the major departments, directing the officials to address the public grievances with urgency.

“Governance must be inclusive and responsive,” Speaker JKLA stated. “By involving local MLAs in the planning process, we ensure that development is prioritized where it is needed most. Our goal remains the seamless delivery of basic amenities and essential services directly to the doorsteps of the people”, he added.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the district administration to adhere to strict timelines, ensuring that the vision for a developed and self-reliant Budgam is realized through coordinated departmental efforts.

Senior officers from various departments attended the meeting and briefed the Speaker regarding achievements, challenges and future action plans concerning developmental activities in the district.