J&K to set up 119 model villages by next fiscal

Jammu, Feb 15 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Government today said it has set the target to complete the process of setting up 119 model villages in the state during next financial year.

Minister of State for Rural Development in the J&K Government Javid Mushtafa Mir, while reviewing the pace of progress on the project at a meeting here today, said the development of 119 villages as model villages would be completed during the next financial year as the work in this regard was on full swing.

He said work on model villages taken up under Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan envisages provision for creation of core infrastructure for basic community needs to generate a conducive atmosphere for educational, social and economic development.

The entire developmental process in these model villages would be completed by the end of the next fiscal, he said adding that most of the basic activities have already been attended to during the current year.

Referring to other schemes being implemented by Rural Development Department, the minister said to tackle the wasteland problem most effectively and through watershed approach, perspective plans are being prepared for the entire state.

''Entire waterland area would be utilised for a productive purposes by inducing different inputs through soil conservation, plantation, irrigation, land development and allied activities,'' the minister said.

Projects worth Rs 110 crore have already been taken up under this scheme besides areas covered in Udhampur and Doda through DPAP approach, he said adding that the flow of funds under this scheme is likely to be tripled during the 11th Five Year Plan period.

UNI