PAHALGAM / ANANTNAG: In a major fillip to the famous health resort of Pahalgam, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, inaugurated the 2MLD Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and an artificial ice skating rink, here today.
She also laid the foundation stone of 1MGD Water Supply Scheme at Kehribal during her extensive tour of Anantnag district for taking a firsthand appraisal of the ongoing development works.
Vice Chairman, J&K Wakf Board, P. M. Hussain, former Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and senior PDP leader, Sartaj Madni, Legislators, Altaf Ahmad Wani and Sofi Mohammad Yousuf, Commissioner/Secretary, H&UDD, Hirdesh Kumar, Secretary Tourism, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Farooq A. Shah and the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah were also present.
After commissioning the fully-automatic STP, the Chief Minister was informed that the facility will benefit 170 hotels, 650 residential houses and 310 huts, thus paving way for operationalizing the biological disposal of sewerage at the picturesque resort.
With the capacity to drain out two million litres of sewerage per day, the STP has been constructed by UEED at a cost of Rs.10.58 crore, which has been fully funded by Pahalgam Development Authority out of its own resources. The work on second and the third phases for laying of more such STPs is also being taken up, which will cater to the areas on Pahalgam outskirts.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the first phase of the artificial skating rink at Nunwan, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs.3.00 crore by the Tourism Department. The rink will have night skating facility which is expected to become a big attraction for the tourists and is aimed at making Pahalgam an all-season tourist destination.
Earlier, the Chief Minister began her visit from Larkipora, where she was greeted by a large number of people. She paid obeisance at Kabamarg as well as the holy shrine of Reshmal Saab, where she prayed for safety and prosperity of the people of Jammu & Kashmir state.
Mehbooba Mufti also laid the foundation stone of the 1MGD Rambirpora-Kehribal Water Supply Scheme, which has been taken up under NABARD at a cost of Rs.21.71 crore.
Secretary PHE and I&FC, Sanjeev Verma, presented an overview of the broad contours of the scheme, for which a timeline of two years has been fixed for completion. The scheme is expected to cater to a population of over 40,000 in habitations comprising Rambirpora-Kehribal, Karewa Rampora, Satranjan Maidan, Cheki Ishardas and Zafran Colony.
The Chief Minister also inspected the pace of work on Mehandikadal-Ashajipora Bypass, which is being constructed by the R&B Department.
The 2.1 km bypass will decongest Anantnag town to a large extent by providing alternate access to the vehicles, which had to earlier pass through the heart of the town, thus resulting in huge traffic jams.
Originally scheduled for completion by December last year, CE R&B said the commissioning of the road was delayed due to certain land acquisition issues. He assured that the bypass will become fully motorable after macadamization is completed by September this year.
Taking a strong notice of the delay in completion of Shopping Complex at Anantnag, the Chief Minister directed the H&UDD Secretary to immediately iron out the issues confronting the completion of the project. She was assured by H&UDD Secretary that the matter will be prioritized and taken up with the executing agency so that the work is completed without any further delay.
Sanctioned in 2005 at a cost of Rs.8.00 crore, the complex has been marred by paucity of funds and a series of cost escalations over the last 10 years.
Upon her arrival at the Government Girls Model School, Ranibagh, the Chief Minister interacted with young students. Praising their soft skills, she was visibly impressed by the quality of some handmade products. At food science gallery, she also relished a few culinary delights prepared by the students.
Earlier a higher secondary school, Ranibagh School was upgraded as Model School on October 13 last year by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed when he launched the Model School Scheme in the state.
Mehbooba Mufti also visited the Islamia Hanfia Institute, run by J&K Wakf Board, where she took stock of its up-gradation as Model School. She went around the building premises and inspected the newly set-up computer labs and ongoing work on the smart classroom.
The Chief Minister directed the VC Wakf Board to complete the work on time so that the students in the school have access to all tools of modern education.
At the historic Sherbagh Garden, the Chief Minister directed Secretary Floriculture to expedite the pace of beautification work. She also instructed the Floriculture Department to landscape the area behind the spring at the adjoining Nagabal Temple.
Also present were former MLA and senior PDP leader Rafi Ahmad Mir, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, CEO PDA, Riyaz Ahmad Wani and Chief Engineer R&B, Kashmir Satish Razdan.
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