Dheeraj Gupta spearheads Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, holds public darbar at MC Lakhanpur

KATHUA, JANUARY 18: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Forest, Ecology and Environment, Dheeraj Gupta, today spearheaded the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra besides conducting a mega public darbar at Municipal Committee Lakhanpur.

Chairman District Development Council Kathua, Retired Colonel Mahan Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Minhas, Additional District Development Commissioner, Ankur Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Ranjeet Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ranjeet Singh, ASP Paramanjeet Singh and various departmental heads and officials were present on the occasion.

Dheeraj Gupta participated in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra proceedings and inspected the departmental stalls exhibiting citizen-centric beneficiary schemes. He administered the VBSY pledge to the participants reaffirming committment towards nation building.

In his address, ACS underscored the importance of collective efforts of people, youth, officers and PRIs towards materializing the vision of a transformed and developed India by 2047. He emphasized the crucial role of all stakeholders in achieving this goal, highlighting the need to focus on infrastructure revamping, human resource development and social unity as the pillars of national development.

The event featured screening of Prime Minister’s message on Viksit Bharat besides distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material through VBSY Van.

Dheeraj Gupta also shared the department’s roadmap towards enhancing forest cover and outlined steps being taken up to augment the green cover across the region. He exhorted upon the executing agencies to obtain prior clearances from the forest department before commencing any work in protected areas.

Addressing concerns raised during the public darbar, ACS assured early redressal and responded to issues such as establishment of a Forest Guest House, Kendriya Vidyalaya at Marheen, early release of Capex Budget and provision of Critical Care Ambulances in health institutions of the area.

Dheeraj Gupta directed the CEO Kathua to prioritize feasibility of opening Kendriya Vidyalaya at Marheen.

Other important issues highlighted during the public darbar included alienation rights of land by DPs, issues of WPRs, expediting JJM works, early completion of PMGSY roads, facelifting of Lakhanpur gateway, exploring tourism possibilities, upgrading Government High School Lakhanpur and shifting of PHC Lakhanpur.

He also handed over desktops and printers to the local CSC through the Cooperative Department.

Earlier, Chairman DDC emphasized the indispensable role of youth in realizing the mission of making India a developed nation by 2047. He provided insights into the benefits garnered by locals through CSS during the VBSY outreach programme and encouraged the participants to avail benefit of government schemes.

DDC Chairman acknowledged the success achieved by the Central government’s campaigns in uplifting the socio-economic status of backward and marginalized sections.