Newly appointed DC Samba Anuradha Gupta. She talked about the current situations about COVID-19 in the city and the steps being taken to control it.
Q. Congratulations on your achievement. What all challenges do you see for the development of Samba and how will you face them?
Since I’ve joined, the biggest challenge has been vaccinating the public and following the SOPs by the Government. We are achieving our daily vaccination target and in fact try to achieve more. Also, we’ve put a ban on fairs and exhibitions to avoid gatherings.
Rest all the issues like water, electricity and poor roads are same in every district. Our main motive would be to hear people’s grievances. For that we have organised Block Divas and kept 3 days for public hearing. We’ll discuss about public problems and try to solve them as quick as possible.
Q. Last year during peak covid many people entered the city without informing the Administration. Are some special precautions being taken this year?
Lakhanpur is the entry point of Jammu and Kashmir. All the outsiders’ details are registered at the counters there. Then they are circulated across other cities. People at DC offices are assigned their work of contacting the travellers and encouraging them for Covid-19 tests. If the situation gets worse, we’ll either start collecting datas at one place or testing them at the same places.
Q. Anything you want to tell about testing rates. These days RTPCR tests are given more importance than Rapid test these days. Your take on this.
A minimum target of 200 rapid tests and 300 RTPCR tests has been kept. On daily basis we are exceeding our targets which is a plus point for us. The hotspot areas like Railway Stations and Bus Stands are taken special care. Also, a surveillance team has been formed to keep check on people following the SOPs directed by the Administration.
Q. Night curfew has been imposed in many cities. Any such precaution for Samba?
For the time being no such decision has been taken. Every evening the positivity (positive cases) data is collected, assessed and then passed to the higher authorities in the Administrative Department. We are keeping the record of Covid-19 cases in the District but for now no night curfew will be imposed.
Q. Mining problem cases have increased in Samba. Any steps by you to prevent general public’s problems?
We were facing some issues in the starting due to mining but now many sale points have been opened up by the District Mining Officer (DMO). Some points are still closed due to legal action. Soon, every future step will be cleared by us as basic needs of the public are being fulfilled for now.
Also, it’s not about how good approach you have. Legal work doesn’t require an approach. If you are correct you are and if wrong then you have to face the punishment by the law. The decisions are taken by the geology mining department, we just give recommendations. We are currently assessing the case and soon will come out with the results.
Q. Samba faces a lot of water shortage problems. Also, a scheme has come forward to provide taps in every house till 2022. Any views on this.
Bad news is that 50% of our households don’t have proper water supply connections. Our district is really water stressed. But the good news is that Jal Jeevan Mission which is a centrally sponsored scheme is under process and the tenders are at different levels. Once it’s completed, every household will have a good amount of water.
I also want to clear that Samba has less water. Water pipeline will not be sufficient for us. We need to focus on water conservation sources too. Jal Shakti Abhiyan by our Honourable PM is a worldwide program related to water conservation. We all need to join our hands, do rainwater harvesting, use water only when required. Let’s make Samba a good district in terms of water conservation.
Q. Many BPL families complain about extra electricity bills and don’t get justice when they approach the Department. Is any step being taken to solve such problems?
We have got many such complaints during Block Divas. Many people are facing such cases. I have recently issued a notice that every Saturday a meeting would be conducted in which cases from every Department will be taken in consideration and discussed. An app called ‘Samadhan’ was launched few days back. It will now be used to put forward the grievances of the local residents and solving them by the Department officials.
Q. Far flung area residents often complain that Pradhanmantri Awaaz Yojna isn’t enjoyed by them. They don’t get the benefits. What is exactly happening?
The Awaaz Yojna provides money in instalments once a person’s house is completely ready. I’ve noticed 1-2 old cases who didn’t get their money after 2-3 instalments. When their processes stopped, new schemes came up. The concerned authorities have taken up the matters and very soon they will get their justice.
In many cases, beneficiaries wait for some amount to continue with the construction but actually the money is provided level wise. They also need to take care and no worries, we’ll solve everything case by case.
Q. You were Director of School Education and we have seen reformation during your period. Samba still lacks in education system in some ways.
The decisions about the School Education are taken by the Department. During my time, many steps were initiated during my presence too. The rationalisation of the teachers will be done. Wherever teachers aren’t available, online education will be provided to students through Saral app which in fact, are still being provided.
As DC Samba, I’ll do whatever is possible. The Directorate had made many changes in the System and we just have to improve them. We’ll work out on the directions of the Directorate and provide quality education, good infrastructure and try to get the students on National on International level.
Q. People in the International border area have demanded bunkers. What do you want to tell them?
I have got deputations about the requirement of bunkers by the border residents. We are consolidating with the concerned Department and soon by funding and sanctions we’ll provide the bunkers at required places.
Q. Any developmental projects started in Samba or already completed.
Some mega projects are already under construction like ring road stretch. The work is going on with a good speed and monitoring over it is quite well. Then, we’ll know that construction of AIMS is under process and we are constantly looking at the requirements. The expressway will soon come in Samba. Land deposition and other works are on different levels right now.
The upcoming other projects are also in consideration and hopefully Samba will be up in the development map very soon.
Q. Any message you want to give to the Samba residents.
My message to all the people would be that they come to us about their problems. 3 days in a week are kept for their grievances, there’s Block Divas then there is e-samadhan app through which people can directly connect to us. We review these problems once a week and try our best to solve them as quick as possible. I request every resident to understand their rights and roles so that there’s a balance between them and the Administration.
