“The work on all ongoing prestigious road projects in Jammu and Kashmir shall be expedited for timely completion”, assured Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, while replying to a supplementary raised in the Legislative Assembly here today.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the macadamization work on the road project along old Bringi Canal from Hiller to Wandevelgam, was successfully completed in March 2023 under the languishing scheme. However, two spots at Adigam (length l50m) and Nagam (length l40m) remained pending due to the presence of existing structures and trees obstructing the alignment.
The Dy CM was replying to a question raised by Zafar Ali Khatana in the Legislative Assembly. He also informed that the Hangalgund- Kharpora road project stands completed in the year 2022 under PMGSY.
In a written reply to a question, the Dy CM said that there is no proposal under consideration for up-gradation and widening of Hangalgund- Puro road as of now.
Regarding fund allocation under NABARD, the Dy CM maintained that the funds under the scheme are released every year for approved projects against the sanctioned cost and work done.
JJM completes 24 WSSs in Beerwah Constituency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed the House that 38 Water Supply Schemes had been approved under Jal Jeevan Mission for Beerwah Constituency, of which, 24 have been completed, so far.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani, in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister said that work on the rest of the 14 schemes is in progress and will be completed within the stipulated time. The total estimated cost of the schemes was 113.19 crore, of which, 64.29 crore have been expended.
Javed Rana also provided physical and financial details of all the Water Supply Schemes that have been completed or are under execution in Beerwah constituency.
The Minister informed that Mazhama, Gondipora, Kandura and Zanigam villages have been proposed to be covered under Jal Jeevan Mission while Kawoosa and Check-Kawoosa villages have been proposed to be covered under NABARD scheme.
The schemes for Gondipora and Kandura villages have been completed, while the others are at different stages of completion. All these schemes are expected to be completed during the next financial year, subject to availability of funds, the Minister stated.
Regarding augmentation of water supply to towns in the constituency, the Minister informed that augmentation of water supply to Magam and Beerwah towns stand approved under AMRUT 2.0 and steps are afoot to complete the same as early as possible.
Javed Rana informed the House that Jammu and Kashmir has experienced rainfall deficit during the last year leading to drying up of various springs that led to delay in operationalisation of schemes in certain areas.
11 ATFs functional in Kashmir, 09 in Jammu for treatment, rehabilitation of drug addicts: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, while terming drug abuse as an issue of grave concern, said there is dire need to work collectively for eradication of this societal menace plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said this while replying to a starred question raised by MLA, Mubarak Gul, in the Legislative Assembly here today.
While giving details regarding the treatment and rehabilitation facilities, the Minister said that 11 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are functional in Kashmir division and 9 ATFs in Jammu division. She further informed that OPD services are functional in all 20 districts while IPD services are available in all 9 GMCs, catering to the healthcare needs of both male and female patients. She also informed that Psychiatrists are available in all the GMC’s of J&K.
Reflecting on the Training and Monitoring efforts of the government, the Minister said that 25 Medical Officers (12 from Jammu and 13 from Kashmir) have been trained by NIMHANS, Bengaluru and deputed to their respective districts to strengthen treatment facilities at de-addiction centres. She also informed that surveillance has been strengthened by data collection on a daily basis using google sheets for real time reporting to monitor trends and measure the impact of interventions.
The Minister informed the house that after the initiation of Nasha Mukht Abhiyan since September 2022, the registration of new cases has shown decreasing trend which indicates some level of control or improvement in detecting and managing the affected victims. She also informed the house that several policy level measures have been initiated like Adoption of Drug De-Addiction Policy, Constitution of State Level Policy Implementation Monitoring, Divisional Level Drug De-addiction and Monitoring besides constitution of District Level Drug De-addiction and Monitoring Committees to tackle drug addiction as well as drug trafficking in J&K.
The Minister further informed that the government has established a dedicated call centre Tele MANAS to facilitate the drug victims seeking treatment.
Giving details on awareness activities, the Minister informed that IEC activities, seminars, workshops and programmes are being conducted regularly in schools, colleges and universities in coordination with the district administrations, NGOs, volunteers and other allied agencies regarding ill effects of drug and substance abuse.
The Minister also informed that the health department, in collaboration with J&K bank, has successfully launched the project “Najaath” on drug abuse dedicated to Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco and Drug Addiction, in Jammu and Pulwama districts in November 2023. She added that the Najaath aims to raise awareness among individuals, families and communities about the harmful effects of tobacco and drug addiction besides the available resources for prevention, treatment and support.
Legislators, Mubarak Gul, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi raised supplementary questions on the matter.
Several WSSs completed, others under progress in SMVD constituency
Concerted efforts underway to address water scarcity caused by rainfall deficiency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that 35 WSSs have been either completed or under progress in different areas of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) constituency to facilitate portable water facility to the people.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Baldev Raj Sharma, in the Legislative Assembly.
He added that 91 PANI SAMITI Committees have been constituted in SMVD Constituency under JJM, comprising elected members of the Panchayat Raj Institutions, community leaders, school teachers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and others and it has to have at least 50 percent representation of women. He said that there is no slackening in monitoring by the Pani Samitis and there are regular reviews being held by District Jal Jeevan Missions (DJJMs) headed by the respective District Development Commissioners.
The Minister said that the rainfall recorded about 79% deficiency, as per data by the ending February this year, resulting in depletion of most of the Spring sources. He said that some important measures being taken up to tackle scarcity of water in SMVD constituency included awareness among the general public about judicious use of water and avoiding wastages. Besides, channelization of local nallahs has also been proposed at some sources by diverting the flow to recharge the springs.
He said that several measures like protection and development of the sources, deployment of additional water and focus on water conservation, rain water harvesting, ground water recharge, rejuvenation of traditional bodies and afforestation are being taken up to address the issue. He also informed that the present status of drinking water demand and supply in the SMVD Constituency (rural areas) is 11.85 lakh gallons per day against the water availability of 10.49 lakh gallons per day.
The Minister stated that all the pipes including GI, DI and HDPE are being used as per the site requirement and their suitability. He said that the HDPE pipes are one among the non-metallic pipes recommended by the CPHEEO manual and advised by NJJM, for use in transmission of water under various WSSs. He said that the concerned technical field staff monitors the work on a regular basis at the site. Apart from the District Project Management Units (DPMUs), there is a Third Party Inspection Agency for monitoring the quality of works, he added.
Replying to a supplementary, the Minister said that a strict inquiry would be conducted in case of failure of Pani Samitis, fixing the responsibilities accordingly. Besides, focus shall be given on fixing loopholes, if any, in execution of JJM works.
Existing healthcare facilities being upgraded expeditiously: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that the existing healthcare facilities are being upgraded expeditiously to cater to the needs of people of the Union Territory.
The Minister made these remarks while replying to a starred question of MLA, Dr. Narinder Singh, on healthcare facilities in Greater Kailash and Sainik Colony.
The Minister said that an Urban Public Health Centre (UPHC) is providing a range of healthcare services to the people at Sainik Colony. She informed that 5 regular healthcare professionals (Doctors and Paramedics) and additional 8 doctors and paramedics, engaged under NHM, have been deployed at the facility to supplement existing staff strength. She further informed that there are also several other healthcare facilities in the close proximity of 1-3 km like NTPHC Channi Himmat, Sub-Centre Sainik Colony and Sub-Center Lower Chowadhi.
Regarding the secondary and tertiary level healthcare services, the Minister said that the Government Hospital Gandhinagar, Rajeev Gandhi Hospital Gangyal, GMC Jammu and its Associated Hospitals are also available within 3-6 km of distance.
The Minister also informed that under universal health insurance initiative of J&K, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)- SEHAT scheme, several private empanelled hospitals are also providing treatments to the eligible beneficiaries in close proximity of Sainik Colony and Greater Kailash areas of Jammu.
71 WSSs worth Rs 409.65 cr being implemented in PHE Division Chadoora: Javed Ahmad Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, informed that 71 WSS schemes of UT level, centrally sponsored and JJM schemes worth Rs 409.65 crore are being implemented in PHE division Chadoora, during the past two years.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Ali Mohammad Dar, in the Legislative Assembly here today.
The Minister said that an amount of Rs. 218. 36 crore has been expended during the past two years on the schemes.
The Minister also informed the house that the general public is being made aware about the flagship programme of JJM, its motives, objectives and benefits under the IEC activities. These are being done by way of installation of boards and banners at JJM schemes, Anganwadi centers, Government schools, the hoardings at prominent public places along roads, wall paintings at school compounds, Government establishments and other places, he added.
He said that painting competitions in schools, rallies by school children were also being organized and an amount of Rs.106.49 lakh has been incurred on this account in the past two financial years under the IEC activities.
