look news india
A major success has been achieved in the direction of safe and permanent housing of Kashmiri displaced (Kashmiri Pandit) employees working under the Prime Minister’s Special Employment Package in Kashmir Valley. In a high-level review meeting convened by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, it was officially informed that out of the total 6,000 transit flats sanctioned at 20 different locations in the valley, the construction work of 5,176 flats has been completely completed.
The progress of the project was reviewed in a joint review meeting of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) and the Public Works Department (PW-R&B). In the meeting, instructions have been given to the concerned executing agencies to complete the remaining construction works within the stipulated deadlines and to start handing over the possession of these flats to the employees in a phased manner on the basis of the allocation already made under the government rules.
These multi-storey transit flats have been constructed at 20 locations in various districts of Kashmir Valley including Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar (Jewan).
Officials said that not only the structure of the flats is complete, but the associated ancillary and civil works are also nearing completion at most of the sites:
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Lift and Power Backup: The work of installing lifts in multi-storey buildings is being completed rapidly.
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Internal Roads and Drainage: Construction of metalled roads and modern drainage networks within the complexes is in the final stages.
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Community Hall: Dedicated community halls have been constructed for social and cultural events of employees and their families.
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Security System: Keeping in mind the security concerns of the employees, concrete arrangements are being made for boundary walls and security posts in all these colonies.
In the meeting, a major decision was taken not only on the renovation of transit flats in Kashmir Valley but also on the relief camps of Kashmiri migrants located in Jammu.
The Government has given administrative approval of ₹82.45 crore for comprehensive repair and renovation of residential blocks built in various migrant camps in Jammu. Officials said that the tender process for this work has been completed and the repair work at the ground level is going to start soon. Under this, the infrastructure of schools, health dispensaries, internal roads and parks located in the camps will also be upgraded.
For the all-round development of the displaced community, new infrastructure projects are being started in the current financial year in Purkhu, Nagrota, Moothi and Jagti camps of Jammu at a cost of about ₹ 20 crore, the tender process for which is going on:
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Community Hall in Jagti: The multipurpose community hall built at a cost of ₹ 6.50 crore in Jagti Township is completely ready.
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Additional Flats in Purkhu: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of additional flats for Kashmiri migrants at Purkhu (Jammu) is being finalized.
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PoJK Building: The construction work of ‘POJK Bhawan’ being built in Suketar was also reviewed and strict instructions were given to complete it in this financial year.
For the next financial year, the department is preparing DPR for e-learning centre, digital library, career counseling centre, skill development and vocational training center and solar power projects.
About 6,000 Kashmiri Pandits and other displaced youth in the valley were given government jobs under the Prime Minister’s Employment Package. However, due to the lack of secure government accommodation, most employees were forced to live in privately rented accommodation, leading to ongoing concerns about security.
Now, with the completion of 5,176 flats and getting possession soon, these employees will not only get a safe residential environment but will also be able to provide their government services in the valley without any fear. This step is proving to be the most concrete and important milestone towards the dignified and safe resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral land.