Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 29: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today called for a proactive approach to expedite implementation of infrastructure projects under Rs 80000 crore Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir.
“Focus has to be on expediting project formulation, constant follow-up with concerned ministries in the Government of India and timely submission of utilization certificates to make best use of the funds available under PMDP to the State,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a high-level meeting here today to review the implementation of PMDP.
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari and Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb Drabu were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister said a team of Secretaries has already been set up by the Government of India on the directions of the Prime Minister to expedite the release of funds to the State for speedy implementation of projects under PMDP.
The Chief Minister said special focus should be laid on fast-tracking the projects under PMDP in power, road communication, housing and urban development, tourism, health, education and flood management sectors so that there is visible impact in infrastructure upgradation on the ground within next few years.
Stressing the need for speeding up project formulation for Smart City for Srinagar and Jammu, the Chief Minister also called for creating special cell in the offices of the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Jammu to expedite the land acquisition and shifting of utilities for the proposed ring road projects for Srinagar and Jammu. She said Rs 1860 crore have been approved for ring road in Srinagar and Rs 1400 crore for ring road in Jammu under PMDP to decongest these capital cities.
She also called for coordinating the release of funds for setting up two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in Jammu and Awantipora in Kashmir for which Rs 2000 crore each have been earmarked in PMDP.
The meeting was informed that besides the components under relief and rehabilitation and flagship projects, PMDP includes funds to the tune of Rs 900 crore for infrastructure upgradation in District, Sub-District Hospitals and PHCs, Rs 2000 crore for tourism development, Rs 2000 crore for installation of small hydro projects, Rs 3790 crore for augmentation of power infrastructure, Rs 300 crore for raising of 5 IRP Battalions, Rs 450 crore for increase in remuneration of SPOs, Rs 500 crore for horticulture development, Rs 735 crore for Srinagar-Banihal road, Rs 5100 crore for Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch road, Rs 1800 crore for Srinagar-Shopian-Qazigund road and Rs 4200 crore for Kargil-Zanskar road.
Earlier, the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu briefed the meeting regarding his recent interaction with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley and various union secretaries regarding expediting the implementation of PMDP in J&K.
He said the concerned Departments in the State should remain in constant touch with the respective Central Government Ministries to ensure prompt submission of DPRs and utilization certificates to ensure regular flow of funds under PMDP.
Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Navin Kumar Choudhary and administrative secretaries of R&B, Housing & Urban Development Department, Power Development Depart-ment, Health, PHE and I&FC, Tourism, Higher Education and Horticulture were also present at the meeting.
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