DAPORIJO : A District Level Monitoring Committee (DLMC) meeting was held at Daporijo on Friday under the chairmanship of Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Tasso Gambo, with participation from administrative officers, Heads of Departments (HoDs) and Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs).
During the meeting, departments presented PowerPoint presentations on the status of ongoing developmental works and schemes being implemented across the district.
Officials also highlighted various challenges affecting project execution and sought cooperation from public representatives, community leaders, the administration and the public for smooth implementation of developmental activities.
Among the major issues discussed were shortage of land for infrastructure projects, delays in formal handover and takeover of completed buildings and damage to roads caused by unauthorized speed breakers.
Departments pointed out that lack of suitable land, particularly for educational infrastructure, has delayed several approved projects. Officials also noted that delays in taking over completed buildings often result in neglect, deterioration and underutilisation of public infrastructure.
Concerns were also raised regarding illegal speed breakers constructed by residents, which have reportedly damaged roads, created traffic hazards and increased accident risks, especially for two-wheeler riders.
Upper Subansiri Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE) strongly stressed the issue of inadequate departmental consultation during execution of education-related projects. Concerns were raised over land availability, project cost estimation, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and quality of execution of educational infrastructure.
The official stated that insufficient coordination among departments often creates complications during monitoring and handover processes, affecting quality standards and resulting in underutilised or defunct school infrastructure. She appealed to all stakeholders and public representatives to prioritise the education sector and ensure quality implementation of projects.
DC Tasso Gambo advised all departments to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and resolve issues through collaborative efforts at every stage of project implementation.
Several ZPMs also expressed concern over water quality and availability in different parts of the district and alleged inadequate field monitoring and poor accessibility of officials for addressing public grievances.
Responding to the concerns, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Executive Engineer Kodokha acknowledged the shortcomings and stated that shortage of manpower has adversely affected service delivery in the vast district. He proposed deployment of additional officers to improve monitoring and public services.
The PHE and Power Departments further highlighted inadequate funding for maintenance works, stating that insufficient funds have led to frequent equipment failures and recurring power disruptions.
Daporijo Division Power Executive Engineer informed the meeting that Aerial Bunched Cable (ABC) wiring is being introduced in Upper Subansiri for the first time and is expected to significantly reduce electrical accidents in the future.
Assistant Engineer of the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), Daporijo, raised concerns regarding solid waste management, shortage of staff and repair requirements of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) building. The official also stressed the need for inter-departmental collaboration for effective town planning and discussed future waste management initiatives in partnership with NGOs for Daporijo township.
District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) reviewed monsoon preparedness measures and sought cooperation from all departments to minimise accidents and prevent loss of lives during the monsoon season.
Concluding the meeting, DC Tasso Gambo thanked all officers and members for their cooperation and cautioned that repeated absence of officials from such meetings would be viewed seriously. He directed all Heads of Departments to attend future meetings regularly with proper presentations for effective coordination and follow-up action. (DIPR)
