Jammu, 26 November (H.S.): In a major fillip to the developmental trajectory of Mankote block in Mendhar subdivision of district Poonch, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for a wide spectrum of infrastructure projects valued at over Rs 80 crore.

The projects, covering essential sectors such as road connectivity, drinking water supply, education, public utilities and sports are poised to significantly uplift civic amenities and accelerate socio-economic development in the district.

Among the prominent inaugurations was the upgradation, purchase and electrification of the Community Hall at GMS Mankote, which is set to serve as a vibrant multipurpose facility for social, cultural and educational events.

The Minister also laid the foundation for a Community Facility Centre (CFC) at Village Mankote, marking another step towards strengthening the local civic infrastructure.

Additionally, new academic rooms at Middle School Barja and Primary School Magyad Keni, along with smart classrooms, reading rooms and library infrastructure at Middle School Nar Chhajla were launched to bolster the digital learning and improve academic environments.

Key education-related construction works including completion of High School Bareela, new Zonal Education Office at Mankote and a four-room block at High School Topa further highlight the Minister’s emphasis on strengthening the educational infrastructure in tribal-dominated and remote pockets.

He also inaugurated and launched extensive road connectivity projects across multiple panchayats such as Mankote, Ghani, Sagra, Balnoi, Chhajla, Kasbalari and Dabraj.

Under RDD, several rural links, vital for daily mobility and emergency accessibility, were taken up. These inter alia included concrete pavement to HSS Mankote, 60-metre steel foot bridge at Mohalla Bacheri linking Balnoi and Sagra and numerous inter-hamlet roads such as KG Top-Kholi, Choudrian Mohalla, Bella Bakerwalla-Garh Dabraj, Dubhna Khandhroo-Nagalban, Mohalla Chowana (Sagra), Bobby Camp-Pillain Water Point, Balnoi-Sharif Mohalla, Dharan Morh-Nakka Mohalla via Jamia Masjid and several other stretches expanding connectivity deep into interior habitations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar