JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudary, today informed the House that upgradation of 15 Km road from Vijaypur-Ramgarh to SM Pura, taken up under CRIF, has been targeted to be completed by June, 2025.
The Deputy Chief Minister, while replying to a question raised by Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal in the Legislative Assembly, informed that 65 percent progress has been achieved on this road and remaining work is in progress on war footing.
He said that three routes lead from NH44 to the Shrine of Baba Chambyal in Ramgarh constituency and the first road starts from Vijaypur NH to Chambyal via Ramgarh and SM Pura having length of 16.70 Km. He added that the second road starts from Swankha Morh NH to Chambyal via Swankha having length of 16.50 Km, 4 Km is being maintained by BRO and remaining 12.50 Km is with the PWD. “PWD has completed upgradation/ improvement of 12.50 Km road in 2023-24 under CRIF having intermediate lane of width 5.5 m. This road merges with the above mentioned first road 2 Km ahead of the Shrine”, he informed.
Further, he also informed that the third road starts from Jakh Morh NH to Chambyal via Nandpur with a length of 15 Km. Out of this, 13 Km is with the BRO (double lane with 7 mtr width BT) and 2 Km patch is being maintained by PWD which is in good condition (single lane with width of 3 m BT) and traffic worthy.
Surjeet Singh Salathia raised the supplementary to the question.
J&K has 18000 MW estimated hydro power potential: Javed Rana
Solar Power plants installed on 5463 households, 4648 govt buildings
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, said that J&K has an estimated hydro power potential of 18,000 MegaWatt (MW), of which, 14867 MW has been identified.
The Minister was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister to a question raised by Mubarak Gul.
The Minister informed the House that the identified potential comprises 11283 MW in Chenab basin, 3084 MW in Jhelum basin and 500 MW in Ravi basin. He said that out of the identified potential, 3540.15 MW (23.81%) has been harnessed till date including 1197.4 MW in UT sector (JKSPDC), 2250 MW in Central sector (NHPC) and 92.75 MW in IPP mode under 31 projects.
Regarding the Solar Power Projects, the Minister said that solar power plants with capacity of 41367 and 34300 have been installed in a total of 4648 government buildings and 5463 residential households respectively.
The Minister said that UT of J&K has an estimated solar potential of 111 GW, most of which is restricted to the UT of Ladakh. He added that the mega size solar power projects have not been developed in J&K till date as identification of feasible land banks (500 acres for 100 MW solar park) at a single location for its development is difficult because of the topography of the UT.
The Minister informed that, however, a cumulative capacity of 75 MW of Rooftop Solar Power Plants has been installed in the UT of J&K across all sectors under various schemes and projects mostly sponsored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI.
He added that, presently, the Rooftop Solar Power plants are being installed on residential households by DISCOMS under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna in which 1 kWp Rs 55,000 with subsidy of Rs 36,000, 2 kWp Rs 1,10,000 with subsidy of Rs 72,000 and 3 kWp Rs 1,59,500 with subsidy of Rs 94,800 have been finalized.
The Minister also informed that Purchase of electric/utility poles, HT/LT wires and transformers is being made through the Procurement wing.
MY Tarigami, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Tanveer Sadiq, Shakti Raj Parihar and Mehraj Malik raised the supplementaries.
Health institution Batamaloo upgraded to PHC: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that Health institution Batamaloo has been upgraded to PHC and is functional with sufficient infrastructure.
The Minister said this while replying to a question by Tariq Hameed Karra.
The Minister said that the PHC Batamaloo is functioning with 12 sanctioned posts. She added that out of 12, 9 are in-position including two Medical Officers and two Dental Surgeons from the regular side, besides 16 sanctioned posts from NHM side are also in place.
The Minister further informed that PHC Batamaloo has sufficient infrastructure as a four storied structure required for smooth functioning of a UPHC and its bed strength had been raised to 56 during Covid time.
The Minister further said that the catchment area of PHC Batamaloo is approximately 50,000 as reported by the Director Health Services Kashmir. She added that PHC Batamaloo does not qualify for up-gradation to the level of Sub District Hospital (SDH).
She also informed that PHC Batamaloo is being served by the higher and tertiary level health institutions like GMC Srinagar, Super Specialty Hospital Srinagar, SKIMS Srinagar, SKIMS (JVC) Medical College, SMHS Hospital Srinagar, L.D Hospital Srinagar, NTPHC Lachmanpora Batmaloo and UPHC Bemina.
Govt completes all development works on Abhinav Theatre, makes it fully functional: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today said that all development works on Abhinav Theatre, Jammu have been completed and the theatre is fully functional.
The Dy CM was replying to a question on behalf of the Chief Minister raised by Arvind Gupta in the Legislative Assembly.
Giving details of budget allocations made for various development works in the Abhinav theatre, he informed that Rs. 5.69 lakh had been allotted for repair of the rooftop during the current financial year under CAPEX and 100 percent work has been completed.
Regarding construction of the compound wall of the Theatre, he said that Rs. 37.41 lakh had been allotted during the current financial year under CAPEX and 90 percent of the work has been completed. He added that Rs. 41.60 lakh have been spent on upgradation/repair works during the current financial year under CAPEX.
The Dy CM further stated that upgradation of sound system, light system and curtains has been completed by the PW(R&B) department. An estimated expenditure of Rs. 101.93 lakh is being booked under the Grant in Aid for the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL), he added.
SDH Kokernag gets 24*7 power supply through dedicated feeder
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today said that a proposal regarding construction of a receiving station at Nowbugh Larnoo in Kokernag is under technical evaluation, including the survey and feasibility check.
The Minister, on behalf of the Chief Minister, was replying to a question raised by Zafar Ali Khatana.
He informed the House that based on the outcome of the evaluation, an appropriate decision will be taken soon. He added that Sub-District Hospital Kokernag is presently being fed round the clock power supply, through a dedicated 11 KV feeder emanating from Receiving Station Kokernag.
He said that regarding power supply to its adjoining areas, the power is being provided 22 hours for metered and 20 hours for un-metered consumers per day as per schedule.
Sopore Town receives 24×7 power supply under PMDP, RDSS schemes: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that Watlab Receiving Station has been upgraded from 1×6.3 MVA to 2×6.3 MVA under PMDP and completed in 2019.
The Minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to a question raised by Irshad Rasool Kar.
He said that the upgraded Watlab Receiving Station has been supplying power to the Warpora area through the 11KV Warpora feeder, however, with increasing load demand, the feeder load reaches 460 Amps during the peak hours. He added that to address this, the department has initiated a fresh technical feasibility survey to assess the need for a new Receiving Station at Warpora and a decision on the new Receiving Station will be taken based on the survey outcome.
He said that the 10MVA 33/11KV Receiving Station at Warpora was initially proposed as part of a prospective plan.
The Minister said that Electrical infrastructure development is underway under various centrally sponsored schemes like PMDP/RDSS. He said that some areas of Sopore Town (Model Town, Court Road, Galabad) have been completed and 24×7 power supply is being provided there. He said that there has been an appreciable improvement in power supply hours, quality of supply in completed areas and work is in progress for the remaining feeders and planned shutdowns are being availed for execution of works safely, with prior information to the public.
He said that once the project works are completed and the loss level of feeders decreases to the desired level, the feeders will qualify for 24×7 power supply.
The Minister said that the work on shifting/re-aligning the entire 33 KV line is not being covered under any existing projects. However, a separate tap line was taken up from Substation Sopore-1 to River crossing under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme R-APDRP Part-B to partly shift the line.
14956 Kanal transferred for establishment of Industrial Estate in Jammu, 6745 in Kashmir: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudary, today said that 14956 Kanal and 15 Marla land in Jammu division and 6745 Kanal and 19 Marla land in Kashmir division has been transferred for establishment of Industrial Estates in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Ali Mohammad Dar.
He informed the House that the intends have also been placed for 9661.05 kanal of land and 5000.13 kanal for establishment of Industrial Estates in Jammu and Kashmir respectively.
He said that among others, Education and Skill Development, figures in the Focus Sector List of J&K Industrial policy 2021-30 which is also part of Service Sector Positive List of New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) 2021, issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
He added that 596 applicants have been registered under the Jammu and Kashmir Start-Up Policy notified vide Government Order No. 29- JK(IND) of 2024 dated 23.02.2024,, of which, 436 applicants have been recognized as Startups. Besides, 26 of these applicants are in the Skill Development and Education Sector.
The Minister asserted that the Industrial Estates have been designated as Sector Specific Industrial Estates in sectors like Education and Skill Development, Health and Medical education in Jammu division and H&ME, Technical Education and Information Technology and Information Technology in Service (IT/ITeS) sectors comprising more than 3628 kanal of land in both the divisions.
IPD, OPD, immunization facilities available at all Healthcare Centers of Chanapora Constituency: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that all the dispensaries including PHCs, NTPHCs and Sub Centers in Chanapora Constituency are functioning properly with IPD, OPD as well as immunization facilities.
The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo.
He informed the house that the Chanapora Constituency has different healthcare facilities at various locations like PHC Chanapora, PHC Laloo, PHC Nowgam, UHC Natipora, NTPHC Rawalpora, Sub Centre Rawalpora, Sub Centre Gungbugh, Sub Centre Hyderpora, Sub Centre Nadirgund, Sub Centre Peerbagh and Sub Centre Sanatnagar. She added that apart from OPD, IPD, immunization facilities for the Children and Pregnant Mothers, some PHCs/UHCs/NTPHCs are also providing USG, X-RAY, lab services, TB tests, eye test (Optho.) facilities.
The Minister further informed that the department is presently working on consolidation of existing healthcare facilities and no future creations and upgrades have been planned, as of now.
She also informed that the department aims to strengthen the existing healthcare facilities strictly as per IPHS norms and extend support to common man seeking medical attention by developing robust e-Sanjeevani/Tele-medicine facilities through a well-designed hub and spoke model to fill the critical gaps.
Standing orders issued to include left out eligible beneficiaries, households into PDS: Satish Sharma
Government to include children born after 2011 till 2016
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, today informed the House that the government has issued standing orders to include left out eligible beneficiaries/households under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Choudhary Mohammad Akram.
He informed the House that norms for inclusion and exclusion have been laid down for identifying the beneficiaries which form the basis for change of group under NFSA.
The Minister also informed that the government has ordered inclusion of the children born after 2011 upto 2016.
“In case the department is left with available targets, assigned by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, thereafter, further inclusion of children born after the year 2016 shall also be considered, the Minister added.
The Minister said that, however, bifurcation of ration cards has been stopped for adhering to targets assigned for coverage of families under PDS, particularly AAY households, by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (Gol), where the entitlement is at the scale of 35Kg per household.
He said that the process of bifurcating ration cards through issuance of fresh Ration Cards will lead to implications of arranging additional food grains for such new households, increasing the burden on the department under other schemes being run by the FCS&CA department and other schemes, where the Public Distribution System database is utilized and household is the unit of entitlement.
The Minister said that the department is contemplating opening of new Fair Price Shops as per framework in vogue, which is part of Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control).
The Minister informed that it has been thought prudent to rope in elected members also to firm up requirements of new Fair Price Shops across J&K, which necessitates relook into the existing framework.
JKPDC to initiate, conclude promotion of eligible employees under recruitment rules shortly: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) has made departmental promotions of JKSPDC employees since 2010.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Muzaffar Iqbal Khan.
He said that the promotions/release of higher grades have been granted to categories, other than Engineering and AGM (Finance), which included Chief Geologist, Company Secretary, Geological Assistants, Technicians, Finance Assistants and Computer Operators.
The Minister said that no category of employees working as computer operators, Junior Assistants, Senior Assistants and Finance Assistants have been ignored in promotions by the Corporation. He said that the agenda for promotion of Finance Assistants to the level of Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) was considered in the DPC meeting held on 5th/9th August, 2024, but because of mismatch between the Finance Department rules adopted by the JKSPDC for such promotions and eligibility of the candidates, it was deemed appropriate to seek Board of Directors (BoDs) approval to dispense with the requirement of passing SAC-I and SAC-II exams stipulated in the Finance Department rules for their promotion.
The Minister said that the matter is being placed before the BoDs for appropriate decisions facilitating their promotion.
The Minister said that in case of Computer Operators (currently at Pay level L-4), there is no higher post available in consecutive pay level of L-5 in the sanctioned strength issued by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir vide Government Order No: 56- JK(PDD) of 2023 dated 02.05.2023.
The Minister said that having regard to the fact that the functioning of the Corporation, a distinct corporate entity under Companies law, does not conform to the functioning of a government department and requires different skill sets, job profiles and hierarchical pattern, the Corporation is in the advanced stage of finalizing stage recruitment rules.
These recruitment rules once notified shall provide a clear career progression for all those cadres including computer operators. Promotions for other cadres including Junior Assistants and Senior Assistants, will however, be initiated shortly against vacant promotion quota posts after following relevant recruitment rules currently in vogue i.e. J&K Subordinate Service Recruitment Rules, SRO- 381 of 1981 Dated. 26.08.1981.
The Minister said that as it is evident from this information that no discrimination with non-gazetted employees has ever been made in past nor shall be made in future while as promotions against vacant promotion quota posts of all cadres, where the employees are eligible under relevant Government recruitment rules in vogue, shall be initiated and concluded shortly.
Kot Bhalwal village site being developed into Scientific Solid Waste Management plant: Sakeena Itoo
The Kot Bhalwal village site in Jammu North Constituency is being developed into a Scientific Solid Waste Management plant through NAFED for scientific processing of waste.
Minister for Health, Sakeena Itoo, stated this while replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to a question raised by Sham Lal Sharma.
The Minister further said that the government is keen to resolve the issues of solid waste and steps are being taken to address those expeditiously particularly in urban areas.
