SRINAGAR, Jammu & Kashmir: Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department in Kashmir, recently conducted a comprehensive online review of the operational efficiency of urban local bodies in the region.
During the review, she meticulously evaluated the progress of various key initiatives, including development activities under the Capex Budget, town beautification efforts, human resource mobilisation, revenue realisation, sanitation measures, and other urban development programs.
In the meeting, a total of 665 public projects were presented, including public parks, marriage halls, open-air gyms, bus stations, slaughterhouses, as well as the construction of lanes and drains. The cumulative value of these projects amounted to ₹490.78 crore, with their implementation spanning 40 towns in Kashmir over the past four years.
Commending the civic bodies for their efforts in executing diverse development projects, the Commissioner Secretary underscored the significance of city beautification, particularly emphasising the sanitation of water bodies in urban areas. She directed officials to ensure 100 per cent door-to-door collection of waste in a segregated form and shed light to the importance of proper faecal sludge management to enhance overall sanitation in urban areas.
Furthermore, Kaur highlighted the urgent need to finalise the GIS mapping of local bodies, asserting that this step would enable various departments within urban areas to plan and optimise their developmental infrastructure effectively.
Kaur urged officers to approach their tasks with enthusiasm and dedication, emphasising the importance of addressing challenges in urban development, sanitation, and the successful implementation of centrally sponsored schemes.