Vital issues of Katra

25/11/2017

Unbelievable it may sound but it is a fact that directions issued by the Governor and the Chief Minister on several critical issues of holy town of Katra have remained on papers despite lapse of over nine months due to absolute non-seriousness on the part of the concerned bureaucrats, who otherwise were given specific timelines for translating the instructions into reality.On February 16 this year, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti discussed various critical issues confronting the holy town of Katra with the top bureaucrats of the State and finally several important decisions of far reaching consequences were taken. In the meeting serious concern was expressed over continuing unplanned development, encroachments and violations of the Master Plan and stress was laid on strict implementation of Master Plan. To achieve this objective, directions were issued for filling up of all the vacant posts of Katra Development Authority and engagement of competent Town Planner. Moreover, the Housing and Urban Development Department was directed to immediately prepare Zonal Plans of Katra town keeping in view the need for planned development of base camp of pilgrimage to cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
In order to strengthen medical care services at CHC Katra keeping in view huge influx of pilgrims, the Governor and Chief Minister had issued directions for setting up of 5-bedded ICU in the CHC to be run on round the clock basis. Even instructions were issued to the Administrative Secretary of Health and Medical Education Department to fill up all the vacant posts particularly of General Surgeon in the CHC Katra on urgent basis. This is notwithstanding the fact that in the meeting of February 16, 2017 the Chief Minister had directed Divisional Commissi oner Jammu to ensure that counters for hiring of pre-paid auto rickshaws and taxis are set up within a period of 30 days. It was also agreed in the meeting that the State Pollution Control Board and Reasi district administration shall take urgent steps for ensuring effective ban of polythene and disposable plastics in and around Katra town. No doubt action has been taken by the officers of district administration at certain places but its impact is not visible on the ground and polythene and disposable plastics are still being used openly by the shopkeepers and vendors. There is lack of coordination between the district administration and Pollution Control Board functionaries otherwise it is not difficult to enforce the ban strictly.

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