Legislative panel reviews development activities in Anantnag

Srinagar: A total of 70,876 job cards under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act have been distributed and 6.05 lakh mandays generated in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in 2012.

It was briefed in a review meeting convened by Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of Legislative Assembly, Rafi Ahmed Mir, yesterday, to take stock of developmental activities in the district. The meeting was informed that out of 3,377 targeted houses under Indira Aawas Yojana, 1,664 houses have been constructed in the district with an expenditure of Rs 4.36 crore, an official spokesman said. Adequate infrastructure along with better sanitation facilities will be developed at Pahalgam, the famous tourist destination, as the 70 per cent of the total tourists here visit the spot, the spokesman said. Rs 4.99 crore have been estimated for the construction of Phalgam club, he said adding, three blocks of the club will be completed by the March next year. District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Ahmed Shah said in the meeting that the construction work of Pahalgam hospital will be started from next year. Due to huge rush of Amarnath devotees, tourists and local people, this project needs more attention, the spokesman said quoting Shah. Out of the 116 road schemes, 59 have been completed at a cost of Rs. 96.84 crore and 37 kms have been black topped, the committee was informed. The meeting was attended by the members of the committee and MLAs, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat and Indu Pawar along with the officials of tourism, housing and urban development departments, he said. PTI