Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 21: The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta chaired a meeting to review the progress of ‘Tawi River Front Development Project’.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Additional CEO JSCL, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control, Jammu and other concerned officers participated in the meeting.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary was apprised of the details of 7 km long project to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 187 crore. Initial 2.7 km from Bhagwati Nagar Barrage to Vikram Chowk Bridge will be taken up under the phase I.
The Chief Secretary directed that the period of execution be reduced from 18 to 12 months. He impressed upon the concerned to complete the project by December 2022.
Regarding the work on Tawi Barrage at Bhagwati Nagar bridge, which is an integral part of the river front development project for creating a lake in the area, the Chief Secretary directed the Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control to ensure its completion before the onset of monsoon 2022.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary also chaired a meeting to review the rising COVID cases in the summer capital of Srinagar city.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Director SKIMS, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Principal GMC, Principal SKIMSMedical College, Bemina, Director Health Kashmir, and Director Family Welfare, participated in the meeting.
To arrest a further surge in reported cases, it was decided that a dedicated vaccination drive will be conducted for universal coverage in Srinagar district. As such, medical teams were directed to ramp up the vaccination machinery to administer 25,000 doses per day for the next 15 days.
Further, to intensify targeted vaccination through sweeping drives across the district, the Health Department was asked to depute 100 mobile vaccination teams at various interchangeable locations.
Observing that COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) is largely being ignored at various public places, the Chief Secretary directed imposition of high fines and penalties on defaulters.
Moreover, the markets at Batmaloo, Zadibal and Lal Bazar were advised to adhere to the established SOPs and CAB protocols, violation of which will lead to a complete shutdown of these areas as they are becoming the new hotspots of infections.
Dr. Mehta urged the enforcement agencies to strictly implement CAB, COVID SOPs, and protocols throughout the district by deploying 100 additional enforcement teams. They were asked to check the movement of unvaccinated people in public places, tourist destinations, and public transport.
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