UDHAMPUR, AUGUST 03: District Development Commissioner, Niraj Kumar, who is also the Chairman of District Level Group, today convened a meeting to finalize the Halqa Panchayat Development Plan for implementation of 14th Finance Commission award.

Threadbare discussion was held on various issues including   establishing transformer banks, construction of fish ponds, promoting eco-tourism, providing solar lights to people of far flung villages etc.

While addressing the meeting, the DDC directed the District Panchayat Officer to include different water harvesting techniques in this plan.

Regarding electricity to un-electrified villages of the district, the DDC asked the concerned authority to provide solar lights to these villages and also shared his idea of developing a 100% solar village in the district.

Emphasizing on skill development of rural people to make them self dependent, the DDC stressed upon the concerned for constructing fish ponds in some panchayats in collaboration with the Fisheries Department.

The meeting also discussed in detail about promoting eco-tourism at various heritage sites of Udhampur district.

Earlier, the DPO informed that the main objective of 14th FC award is to decentralize authority with a view to accelerate the pace of developmental programme and involve people in the process of development. The scheme supports and promotes self governance by providing funding support to PRIs, he added.

Joint Director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, District Panchayat Officer Sandeep Seointra, District Statistical Evaluation Officer, Executive Engineer (REW) and Assistant Director Planning attended the meeting.