Govt to take up Central assistance issue with MHA
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: The Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Central Government had announced a project for construction of 6000 flats (one BHK) as transit accommodation for migrant employees in the Kashmir valley at 20 locations.
“The project was approved under Prime Minister’s Development Package-2015 with sanction cost of Rs 920 crore now revised to Rs 1325.8427 crore for construction of 6000 flats of 1 BHK. The project as per the approved specifications is being implemented in letter and spirit,” Minister In Charge Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Department, said in the Assembly in response to a written reply to un-starred question of PDP MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz.
However, the Minister said, on the directions of the then Chief Minister (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed), a go ahead was given to the construction of 2-BHK flats instead of 1-BHK at two locations only including Sheikhpora and Vessu.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had communicated that cost escalation shall be borne by the UT Government, the reply said.
It added that no proposal to restore previous decisions in respect of accommodation keeping in view the factor of being insufficient is under consideration at present.
Meanwhile, the Government said it will take up the issue of changes in certain components of Central assistance with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at an appropriate stage.
This information was given in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds charge of the Finance Department, in response to an un-starred question of People’s Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara Sajjad Gani Lone.
“The Government will take up the issue of changes in component-wise provisions for the Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) and hydroelectric projects with the MHA,” Omar said.
“As the component-wise provision for the Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project and hydroelectric projects has changed, the matter will be taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs at the appropriate stage,” the Chief Minister said.
When asked whether there had been a reduction in Central assistance, he clarified that overall assistance has remained steady.
“The Central assistance under Demand No. 58 (Transfer of Assistance to J&K) was Rs 41,751 crore in 2023-24 (Revised Estimates), Rs 41,000 crore in 2024-25 (Revised Estimates/First Supplementary), and Rs 41,000 crore in 2025-26 (Budget Estimates),” he said.
The Government also stated that seven Water Supply Schemes in Pampore constituency haven’t been made functional due to the dispute with land owners and despite depleting water level, it provides safe water to the public.
Replying to a question of Justice Hasnain Masoodi, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Rana said that 4629 households are getting drinking water in Awantipora block, 2411 in Kakapora, 632 in Newa and 9547 in Pampore.
He said that some of the bore wells & overhead tanks have not been made functional owing to disputes with land owners in PHE Division Awantipora.
These schemes include WSS Wuyan (Green Land), WSS Gundbal Androosa, WSS Chatlam Lalpora, WSS Lethpora-B, WSS Lethpora-C, WSS Syed Qasim Colony and WSS Bonibagh Lelhar.
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