Sanjeev Pargal/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Sept 9: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were today reported to have reiterated their commitment to implementation of the Agenda of Alliance (AoA), which was reached between PDP and BJP before formation of their first-ever coalition Government in the State even as the Home Ministry stated that it has sanctioned Rs 62,599 crores out of a total Rs 80,068 crores worth Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for a total of 63 projects.
In a series of tweets after the Home Minister reviewed PMDP in Srinagar at a meeting attended by Mehbooba, top MHA officials and civil administration of the State Government, the Home Ministry said it has sanctioned Rs 62,599 crores for a total of 63 projects, which comes out at 78 per cent of the total package. However, Rs 21,988 crores have been released so far under the Package.
“The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 62,599 crores which amounts to 78 per cent of the total cost of the PMDP package,” one of the tweets by the MHA soon after the hour-long PMDP review meeting was over, said.
“The PMDP includes assistance for completely damage or partially damaged houses due to floods. This project costing Rs 1200 crore is now complete. The 4 laning project of Chenani-Nashri section of NH-IA is complete. The cost of this project was Rs 781 crores,” they said.
At the review meeting, it was decided that 11 new projects would be taken up for execution including some ambitious projects like Rs 5100 crore Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch National highway, Rs 1800 crore Srinagar-Shopian-Qazigund road project, Rs 2700 crore and 105 kilometers long connectivity project for various tourist destinations and Rs 1800 crore Zojila tunnel project.
Rajnath reached in Srinagar this morning on four-day visit of the State. Apart from PMDP review and separate meetings with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, he met number of delegations in summer capital of the State. Tomorrow, he would visit Anantnag and Khanabal and address CRPF and JKP personnel besides meeting more delegations and reviewing security situation in the State at a high-level meeting with top brass of para-military forces, police, civil administration and Intelligence agencies.
A Raj Bhawan spokesman said Rajnath Singh and Governor N N Vohra held extensive discussions on several important issues relating to the challenges being faced in the State, when they met at the Raj Bhavan here this evening.
Besides security management related issues, the Governor stressed the vital importance of the efficient and accountable functioning of the administrative machinery, eradication of corruption, protecting the academic interests of youth, and early conduct of the pending elections to rural and urban local self-governing bodies.
A detailed handout released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Day 1 of the Union Home Minister’s visit, said Rajnath asked the authorities to expedite the implementation of the PMDP in a time bound manner. He added that it will create jobs for the people of J&K.
Sources said in her meeting with Rajnath Singh, Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue of implementation of Agenda of Alliance (AoA), which the PDP and BJP had agreed to adhere to before formation of coalition Government in the State.
Mehbooba impressed the need for Centre to reach out to all sections of society in the State, which has been duly recognized in the AoA. Asserting that needs and problems of the people of J&K have been recognized in the AOA, she called for fast pacing of its implementation.
An official handout of the State Government, however, said that both Rajnath and Mehbooba recognized the need for timely implementation of AoA, which provides “definite roadmap” to resolve problems confronting the State.
The Chief Minister called for regular and timely release of funds for various projects under the PMDP.
The Agenda of Alliance reached between PDP and BJP among other issues included talks with all stakeholders, status quo on controversial issues like Article 370 and return of some power projects to the State by the NHPC.
Before leaving for Srinagar, Rajnath once again reiterated his call that he was willing to meet anyone in Jammu and Kashmir, who will help us in finding solutions to problems faced in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PIB handout on PMDP review said: “nearly two years after the PMDP-2015 was announced, five of the 63 projects have been completed. These include the prestigious Chenani-Nashri tunnel costing Rs 781 crore, announcement of remuneration to Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Rs.3,000 per month to up to Rs.6,000 per month as well as assistance provided for Pucca and Kuchcha houses damaged during 2014 floods.
“The land acquisition in respect of semi-Ring Roads in Jammu and Srinagar will be completed within two months. The four-laning of Jammu-Udhampur section of National Highway, NH-1A, is nearing completion. Nineteen road connectivity projects costing about Rs.43, 000 crore are under implementation in the State, which are progressing satisfactorily”.
It said an investment of about Rs 5,810 crore under power Sector is being made to improve the transmission and distribution network in the State. Besides, the Central Government is supporting the State with an investment of Rs 3,790 crore on Pakaldul hydroelectric project.
“For the construction of AIIMS at Awantipora and Jammu Rs 2,000 crore each are being made available and an amount of nearly Rs 91 crore has been released. Besides, IIT, Jammu and IIM, Jammu have already started functioning from temporary campus and the setting up of permanent campus is under progress. Similarly under the health sector, Rs 900 crore were available for completion of ongoing health infrastructure. Rs 200 crore has been utilized.
“Work on the comprehensive management of Jhelum was reviewed and found satisfactory. The DPR for Phase-II is being prepared. It was noted with satisfaction that the projects are progressing satisfactorily. During the meeting, other developmental projects under Urban Development, Solar Energy, Horticulture, Tourism etc were also reviewed”.
Sources said the Home Minister also reviewed progress on package and rehabilitation of migrants of Jammu, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Kashmiri migrants.
The Chief Minister assured the State Government’s full support in the implementation of the PMDP and on all other fronts.
Later, as many as 24 delegations of various organizations, including social, trade, travel and business from across Kashmir valley called on Rajnath Singh in Srinagar and apprised him of their problems.
They included Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Associations, Kashmir Shikara Association, House Boat Owners Association, and various other Tourism sector organizations, Youth delegation, Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), Sikh delegation, Fruit Growers & Dealers Association, JK Shia Association, All Gujjjar & Bakerwal Conference, Pahari Association and Self Employed Women Association. The delegations apprised the Union Home Minister about the varied problems relating to their respective organizations and submitted memorandum and requested for their resolution of issues on priority.
Sources said at the PMDP review meeting, Rajnath impressed upon the officers of the State and Central Governments to work in a coordinated manner for timely implementation of the projects under PMDP. He said the PMDP, which envisaged a developmental and infrastructural revolution in the State, is the biggest financial package for J&K so far.
The Union Home Minister asked the officers to complete the projects within the deadline schedule so that people of the State get the benefit of these projects at the earliest. He also suggested taking the benefits of these projects to common masses so that with their involvement in execution, completion results are achieved at the earliest.
In her intervention, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti sought regular and in time release of funds to the State Government for executing these projects. She said that given the limited working season and harsh winters in the State, these releases have to fast-paced and furthered.
Chief Secretary, B B Vyas and OSD to Union Home Minister, Amrindra Kumar Senger briefed the meeting in detail about various categories of projects taken in hand under PMDP. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Additional Secretary BR Sharma and other MHA officials were also present in the meeting, which was attended by top officers of the civil administration of the State.
The meeting was informed that 63 projects have been taken up under PMDP by 15 Union Ministries through 39 executing agencies. Of them, around 80 per cent of the projects stand formally sanctioned.
Out of the total outlay, Rs 21988 crore have been released under the package and five projects have already been completed while as seven projects are likely to be completed soon.
Of the projects in progress are 22 major road projects in the State which include some big ticket works like semi ring road projects for Srinagar and Jammu, Kargil-Zanaskar road, Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal stretches of National Highway, which are in various stages of completion.
The meeting was informed that the IIM at Jammu has started functioning from transit accommodation with an off campus at Narkara, Budgam. Similarly, the IIT at Jammu has also started functioning at Jammu and the process of raising infrastructure at the two institutes has also been started. Similarly under AMRUT, the DPRs of 56 out of 59 projects have been approved, out of which 27 projects have been started.
Under the Himayat programme, a target of training more than one lakh youth for the coming five years of the State has been fixed with proper placement linkages. Similarly indoor stadia are being constructed at 10 district headquarters.
1. 24 Kashmir delegations meet Home minister
2. Governor Calls for rural, Urban bodies’ elections
3. CM seeks timely release of PMDP funds
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