Srinagar, May 19: Reviving the old tradition of addressing people's problems at their doorsteps, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed spent hours visiting interiors of the twin districts of Anantnag and Pulwama and took on the spot decisions to meet development needs of the areas. Mufti, who is the first chief minister to visit Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar Friday last, went round areas hitherto unvisited by any chief minister in the last 14 years, inspected education, health and other institutions besides inaugurating two irrigation schemes yesterday.
Mufti's visit, alongwith some ministers and senior officials, kindled a new enthusiasm among the people who, finding him at their doorsteps, came out on the roadsides, waved at him as his motorcade passed by. At several places, they stopped his vehicle to apprise him of their problems. He issued on the spot instructions at some places, while called some to Srinagar for detailed discussions on their problems.
Mufti also visited Achhabal, which once was a very popular tourist resort, faced the brunt of militancy
At Kulgam, Mufti directed Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation to expedite the work on construction of Rs 6.50 crore 50-bedded sub-district hospital building and fruit and vegetable market. The chief minister also conveyed his displeasure for poor upkeep of the Kulgam Higher Secondary School and directed that it should be made a model institution, both in terms of building and academic excellence.
Among other schemes announced for the town included a public park and sports stadium.
The chief minister was accompanied by Agriculture Minister A A Zargar, ministers of state, Syed Bashir Ahmad, A R Veeri, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, CPI(m) leader M Y Tarigami besides other senior officers.
Sheikh Abdullah was the first chief minister who visited diferrent areas and addressed people's problems in the state. Bureau Report