JAMMU, Oct 04- Minister for Social Welfare, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Bali Bhagat Sunday dedicated newly re-constructed bridge to people of the Tawi Island.
The portion of bridge has been executed by R&B Department at a cost of Rs. 235.30 lakh which would benefit nearly 45 villages mainly including Sure Chak, Gnashu Chak, Ram Bagh, Mukhra, Khandal, and Lalyal with population of about 55000 souls.
The bridge has been restored by way of repairing the existing damaged abutment, constructing a dummy abutment about 24 mtrs away and launching a steel bridge with total length of 91 mtrs consisting of two spans, one is 66 mtrs and other of 24 mtrs.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineer R&B Alok Mengi, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Rajeev Gandotra, Superintendent Engineer R&B S. P. Manhas, Executive Engineers of concerned departments besides Sarpanches, Panches and a large number of people were also present on the occasion.
While greeting the people for the bridge, Mr. Bali said that with the completion of this bridge the people of Tawi Island and adjoining areas would be benefitted with adequate transportation facility. He said that it is Endeavour of the government to ensure basic facilities to the people of rural areas. He also congratulated the executing agency for completion the bridge in a record time. He informed that a double lane new bridge will also be constructed over Nikki Tawi and the construction work of the same will be started soon. He appealed to the people to cooperate with the executive agencies for timely completion of upcoming prestigious projects being executed under various Centrally and State schemes.
Mr. Bali said that with tireless efforts of the coalition government massive development has taken place in various sectors like R&B, health, Education, PHE, Power and Social Welfare in the state during the last six months. He said that the State government stands committed to provide all basic amenities to the people of the State at their doorsteps. He informed till date 56 kms of road in Raipur Domana Constituency have been black-topped and further work onmacadamization and blacktopping is on progress.
The Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always evinced keen interest for making Jammu and Kashmir a model state for which this state is being provided liberal funding for various projects. He said several projects under PMGSY and ADB funded schemes were apace in the State.
Seeking people’s cooperation in avoiding catastrophes in future, Bali Bhagat said that public much cooperate in removing obstructions and encroachments from the flood channels, nallahs and rivers for which local administration has already launched a drive against the encroachers.
It is pertinent to mention here that the bridge portion of Nikki Tawi was washed away in September 2014 floods. In the month of March, 2015, the Minister for R&B Altaf Bukhari visited the Nikki Tawi accompanied by Minister for Forest Bali Bhagat and ordered for immediate reconstruction of the damaged portion.
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