Basantgarh, Udhampur, October 18, 2026 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Sunday held a Public Durbar at Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district to address public grievances and discuss key developmental issues affecting the region.
The Public Durbar was attended by senior officers of the district administration and representatives of various departments. During the interaction, the Minister listened to concerns raised by local residents and public representatives, with several issues reportedly resolved on the spot.
The outreach programme provided residents with an opportunity to bring matters concerning public amenities, infrastructure and local development directly to the attention of the Minister and the concerned administrative authorities.
₹32 Lakh Public Shed Project for Chandi Mata, Kalyal
A key development initiative highlighted during the programme was the construction of a public shed at Chandi Mata, Kalyal, in Panchayat Balota Upper, Block Dudu-Basantgarh, at an estimated cost of ₹32 lakh.
The project will be funded through two sources, with ₹16 lakh allocated under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and the remaining ₹16 lakh through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The proposed facility is intended to provide public infrastructure at the identified location. The combined funding arrangement brings together resources from both schemes for the development work in the Basantgarh area.
The project represents one of the specific infrastructure initiatives highlighted in connection with the Minister’s public outreach programme.
Public Grievances and Local Development in Focus
During the Public Durbar, Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with residents and public representatives to understand the issues affecting the region and discuss development requirements with the officials concerned.
The on-the-spot resolution of several grievances was a key outcome of the interaction. The participation of district officers and departmental representatives also provided a platform to raise local concerns directly with the authorities responsible for addressing them.
Public Durbars serve as a channel for direct communication between elected representatives, the administration and residents, helping bring local issues concerning public services and infrastructure to the attention of the concerned departments.
Senior Officials and Political Representatives Attend
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Ramnagar Sunil Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Ananth Dwivedi, senior officers from various departments, BJP district president Arun Gupta, and senior leaders Kewal Parihar, Pooja Thakur and Hans Raj. Youth leader Shawan Kumar and other representatives were also present.
Their participation brought together elected representatives, party functionaries and administrative officials during the public interaction.
Continued Public Outreach in the Udhampur Region
Dr Jitendra Singh’s Public Durbar engagements provide a platform for residents across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Parliamentary constituency to raise grievances and highlight local development needs.
The Basantgarh programme focused on addressing public concerns, coordinating with the district administration and identifying infrastructure requirements. The resolution of several issues on the spot and the ₹32 lakh public shed project at Chandi Mata, Kalyal, were among the key details associated with the visit.
The interaction underscored the importance of direct public engagement in identifying local priorities and bringing development-related concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities.
