Jammu, Jan 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the overall development scenario of Jammu district, with a focus on expediting key infrastructure projects, improving irrigation facilities, strengthening flood restoration works and ensuring optimal utilisation of funds.

The meeting, as per an official statement, was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chairman District Development Council Jammu Bharat Bhushan, Member of Parliament Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma and all Members of the Legislative Assembly from the district.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police Jammu B.S. Tuti, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas, heads of departments, and representatives of NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO and other concerned agencies were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister gave directions for early completion of development works taken up under CAPEX strictly as per availability of funds. He assured the MLAs that each of them would receive a detailed communication outlining the status of projects that can be taken up, those that could not be initiated so far, the reasons thereof, and the future roadmap.

“It should not happen that you feel a project has been taken on priority and then put on a back burner. You will receive a letter explaining what we are doing, what we have done and what we intend to do in future, so that everyone is kept in the picture,” the Chief Minister said.

On irrigation, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for a comprehensive ground-level inspection, particularly of tail-end areas of canals, to ensure proper desilting and equitable water distribution to farmers. He directed the concerned Minister to prepare a timetable and conduct on-site inspections along with the local MLAs.

Recalling past challenges, the Chief Minister said that farmers at the tail end of canals often suffered due to lack of desilting, which prevented water from reaching them when it was most needed. He stressed the need to take up desilting works in convergence with MGNREGA wherever feasible, so that labour costs are met under MGNREGA while material and machinery costs are borne by the department.

Referring to the issue of farmers being forced to use pumps due to inadequate canal irrigation, the Chief Minister said that unauthorised electricity connections for irrigation would not be disconnected and would be regularised as non-metered connections. He further announced that no hike in electricity charges for farmers would be proposed this year.

Directing the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, the Chief Minister called for maximum utilisation of funds in the remaining months of the financial year. He complimented the district administration for good performance and better-than-expected fund utilisation so far.

He stressed the need for close monitoring of SASCI projects, especially greenfield projects, to ensure timely fund utilisation and avoid additional financial burden under CAPEX. He also directed that MLAs be taken into confidence while organising Mission Yuva events in their constituencies to build momentum for employment generation initiatives.

Highlighting that more than Rs 1400 crore has been sanctioned for permanent flood restoration works, the Chief Minister instructed that the share allocated to Jammu district must be utilised judiciously to ensure durable and long-term solutions.

“The water levels we are seeing now are similar to those witnessed in 2014. Our restoration works must be planned keeping that in mind so that the assets created are not washed away during the next heavy rains. Restoration must be permanent, not temporary,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister complimented the district administration and the elected representatives for their collective efforts. During the meeting, the concerned Ministers also made interventions related to their respective departments and issued on-the-spot directions to the officers for prompt redressal of issues.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Jammu gave a detailed presentation on the financial and physical progress of various departments. He highlighted the achievements and ongoing works in sectors including Public Works (R&B), PMGSY, electricity, PMAY-G and PMAY-U, school education, skill development, health, youth services and sports, revenue, labour, agriculture and allied sectors, forest, geology and mining, tribal affairs and other departments.

Chairman DDC Jammu, Member of Parliament and MLAs also raised issues, demands and grievances pertaining to their respective constituencies for early resolution.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid e-foundation stones of housing and urban development projects worth Rs 13.48 crore and e-inaugurated projects related to school education, housing and urban development and rural development amounting to Rs 19.05 crore.

He also flagged off truck-mounted jetting-cum-sewer suction machines (6000 litres), truck-mounted jetting-cum-sewer suction machines (4000 litres), jetting, grabbing and rodding machines (3000 litres) and open nallah desilting machines mounted on tipper chasis with extendable crane.

An ambulance for CHC Pallanwalla was also flagged off on the occasion.

Rajouri, Jan 12: Police on Monday recovered an ancient idol of a Hindu goddess that had gone missing from Kallar village in Rajouri district, a day after its disappearance triggered concern and tension in the area, with local residents praising the prompt action taken by the police.

An ancient idol of a Hindu Goddess, was recently unearthed during earth excavation work in Kallar village of Rajouri district, and had emerged as a centre of religious faith, drawing a large number of devotees to the site to pay obeisance.

In the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, the idol, which was kept at an open place in the village, went missing.

The matter came to light on Sunday morning, triggering concern and tension in the area.

The news of the missing idol spread rapidly, causing widespread anxiety among residents.

People from the area expressed serious concern and alleged involvement of miscreants in the theft.

They maintained that people of all communities have been living in harmony in the village and said the incident appeared to be a deliberate attempt to disturb communal peace.

They demanded immediate police intervention to recover the idol and identify those responsible.

Meanwhile, police teams swung into action on Sunday evening and initiated an investigation into the matter with a formal case was registered at Police Station Rajouri.

Officials said that more than half a dozen local residents were rounded up and questioned as part of the investigation.

Acting on specific leads developed during questioning, police conducted searches in the village and on Monday successfully recovered the missing idol.

Following the recovery, members of the Hindu community organised a press conference and lauded the prompt action and effective investigation carried out by the police, which they said led to the swift recovery of the idol.

They also appealed to the authorities to take stringent legal action against those involved in the theft to prevent such incidents in the future.

Jammu, Jan 12: “From spiritual, cultural roots to new creative horizons, it is our collective responsibility to reimagine Jammu Kashmir as an art hub. In this endeavour, I hope to see the contribution of painters and writers to build the artistic future of the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday. He was speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Kesar Art Circle at Kala Kendra Jammu.

At the ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated Bhushan Kesar, renowned painter and Founder Kesar Art Circle. He lauded Bhushan Kesar’s extraordinary contribution in nurturing and training thousands of artists who have achieved exceptional success globally marking significant milestones under his mentorship.

The Lieutenant Governor, in his address, emphasised that preservation of our sacred heritage is the foundation to create the future.

“Transforming Jammu Kashmir’s cultural and spiritual soul into a global art hub is a shared responsibility. I believe art is a bridge to connect diverse cultures and to revive our ancient spiritual and cultural legacy,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the vital role of artists, thinkers, painters, sculptors as the “conscience of society,” inspiring public participation in democracy and the nation’s development journey.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that art forms like painting and sculpture are not mere entertainment and luxuries but vibrant forces that determine how a society thinks and moves forward. Throughout human civilization, art has given voice to emotions that transcend language, fostering empathy and social cohesion, he said.

He called upon the young generation to use the power of art for positive change.

“Art is both a mirror and a guide for society. Youth must embrace art as a medium to preserve their cultural identity, ensuring they remain rooted while contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat,” the Lieutenant Governor further said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a painting exhibition and also felicitated various artists.

Padma Shri Dr SP Varma; Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary Culture; Shruti Awasthi, Regional Director, IGNCA; KK Sidha, Director Archives; Harvinder Kour, Secretary JKAACL; Dr. Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Kala Kendra Jammu; senior officials, prominent artists and citizens from different walks of life were present.