Minister Kaushik Rai reviews urban development agenda in Barak Valley

way2barak, June 26:– Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Housing & Urban Affairs and Cooperation Minister Kaushik Rai on Friday chaired an extensive review meeting with representatives of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) from across the Barak Valley at the Silchar Convention Centre, Silicoorie taking stock of the progress of urban development projects and civic infrastructure across the region.

The elected representatives and senior officials from the three districts of the Barak Valley were present to assess ongoing works and discuss issues relating to urban infrastructure, drinking water supply, solid waste management, drainage, sanitation, civic amenities and the implementation of various projects under the Housing and Urban Affairs Department.

During the deliberations, the Minister called upon all Urban Local Bodies to work in close coordination to improve the quality of urban services and create cleaner, better-planned and citizen-friendly towns across the Barak Valley. He stressed the need for timely execution of development projects with public convenience remaining the foremost priority.

The review meeting was attended by Borkhola MLA Kishore Nath, while Silchar MLA Dr. Rajdeep Roy joined through video conference. Commissioner & Secretary, Housing & Urban Affairs Department, Kavita Padmanabhan, Secretary Richand Ahmed, District Commissioner of Sribhumi Pradeep Dwivedi ,IAS and senior officers from various departments also participated in the discussions.

Earlier in the day, the Minister visited Silchar Medical College and Hospital, where he inaugurated the newly installed state-of-the-art MRI machine. The new diagnostic facility is expected to significantly improve access to advanced medical imaging for patients from the Barak Valley, reducing waiting time and strengthening specialised healthcare services in the region.

During his visit to the hospital, the Minister inspected several departments and reviewed the standard of medical services, cleanliness, availability of medicines, patient amenities and the overall management of the institution. He also interacted with patients and their family members to understand their experiences and hear their concerns firsthand. Based on the feedback received, The Minister instructed the hospital authorities to address issues promptly and ensure the efficient delivery of healthcare services.

During his visit the Minister also said that State Government continues to place high priority on expanding quality healthcare facilities so that people can access modern medical services closer to their homes.

Later, Minister Kaushik Rai visited the AMRUT water supply project at Ghungoor in Silchar to review the functioning of the water supply system and assess the quality of services being provided. Commissioner & Secretary, Housing & Urban Affairs Department, Kavita Padmanabhan, and Managing Director of AMRUT, Sampriti Goswami, were present during the inspection.

Reviewing the progress on the ground, the Minister directed the officials concerned to further streamline project operations to ensure a safe, uninterrupted and reliable supply of potable drinking water for the residents of Silchar.

The Minister also inspected the ongoing drainage improvement works at Singirkhal, Rangirkhal and Longaikhal in Silchar along with Commissioner & Secretary Kavita Padmanabhan, former MLA Dipayan Chakraborty and officials of the Silchar Municipal Corporation.

The Minister instructed the executing agencies and contractors to complete the works at the earliest without compromising quality so that residents receive timely relief from recurring inundation during the rainy season.

This is stated in a press release issued by Regional office of Information & Public Relations Barak valley Zone Silchar Assam.