High-powered Central delegation arrives in Kashmir

Srinagar: A high-powered central delegation arrived here to review the centrally-sponsored and other schemes in Jammu and Kashmir.
Led by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, the delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with different state government officials.

An official spokesman said the delegation called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhawan and discussed various issues relating to the implementation of the ongoing flagship development programmes and welfare schemes here yesterday.
They also discussed matters relating to internal and external security management.
During an hour-and-a-half long meeting, the Governor and the Cabinet Secretary discussed various flagship programmes and issues relating to the implementation of current year’s Annual Plan, the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, Centrally-sponsored schemes and other major infrastructure development projects.
Considerable attention was devoted to discussing the timeframe within which three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions would be established in the State.
They also discussed issues relating to hydel power development, Kashmir Railway Project, particularly to link Qazigund with the new 11 km tunnel across the Pir Panjal, four-laning project of the National Highway, growth of agriculture and its allied sectors and certain other key areas.
The Governor emphasised the need for constant monitoring to secure the time-bound completion of all the important development projects for ensuring against any delay in the benefits of various schemes reaching the people.
Later, the Governor hosted lunch for the Central Team of Secretaries, including Alok Rawat, Secretary, Coordination; S Ramadorai, Advisor to the Prime Minister (Skill Development); Planning Commission Secretary Sudha Pillai and Prem Narain, Senior Advisor, Planning Commission.
The meeting also Home Secretary R K Singh; Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma; R H Khwaja, Secretary, Tourism; Anshu Vaish, Secretary, School Education and Literacy; Rakesh Kacker, Secretary, Food Processing; Rudra Gangadharan, Secretary, Animal Husbandry; Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Urban Development; Dr Mrutyunjay Sarangi, Secretary, Labour and Employment; B K Sinha, Secretary, Rural Development; Vinay Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board; P Uma Shankar, Secretary, Power and Ashok Thakur, Special Secretary, Higher Education.