KUPWARA: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Wednesday visited border district Kupwara and chaired the Weekly public outreach programme, Block Diwas at Wavoora in picturesque Lolab Subdivision of Kupwara district.
In his address, the Div Com gave the historical background of Panchayat Raj System and said that in Jammu and Kashmir it will take some time to grow strongly at grassroots level as it started just two year ago. He urged the officers to respect PRIs and provide requisite information to them, adding that they (officers) should not feel any encroachment when they (PRIs) come to their offices.
He said the essence of democracy is that people shall rule themselves and decide for themselves what is good or bad for them. He said “We are here for them, they are not for us”, adding that we need to attend Public Representatives on priority basis.
Quoting Lolab Valley as the Land of Love and beauty, Pole said that people of Lolab have ever since known as lovers of peace. He said people here are still adopting the values of Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, whose birth place is here in Lolab.
Replying to questions raised by public representatives regarding holding of meetings and its outcome and establishment of domestic airport, the Div Com said that Panchayat Raj System consists of three tiers and each tier has its own level of powers which shall be utilized in full.
He said all issues projected by VC DDC and other public representatives shall be looked into on priority and assured that all demands would be fulfilled in a time bound manner.
Regarding power curtailment, Div com stressed for strict implementation of curtailment schedule and directed for timely completion of augmentation of Arampora grid so that people of Kupwara district get instant relief in this winter.
Regarding employment, the Div Com exhorted youth to