Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: Major Health, Education and Urban Development projects in J&K, funded by the Union Government were today reviewed in a meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary, B R Sharma and Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development, Durga Shankar Mishra.
Financial Commissioner, Pla-nning Development & Monitoring Department, B B Vyas, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Urban Development, B Anand, DG CPWD, Abhai Sinha and other top officials of the State and Union Government were present in the meeting.
The projects reviewed included those under the PM’s Development Package-2015 and projects being carried out by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) in the State.
Projects in the Kashmir division, reviewed in the meeting included AIIMS at Awantipora, NIT-Srinagar, Central University in Ganderbal, Saffron Park at Pampore, Kendriya Vidyalayas at Kargil and Bandipora, Income Tax Office Complex at Rajbagh, Data Centre at Software Technology Park of India (STPI) Srinagar and others.
Similarly, projects in Jammu division, reviewed in the meeting included AIIMS in Vijaypur, Central University in Bagla, Jammu, IIT at Jagti Nagrota and Kendriya Vidyalaya at Kathua etc.
Projects under AMRUT and preparations by the J&K Government with regard to Smart City projects for Srinagar and Jammu cities were also reviewed in the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Mishra underlined the need to implement the projects expeditiously within the timelines fixed for each project. He said Union Government is keen to see these projects come up in J&K in the shortest possible time and progress is being monitored at the PMO level.
“Concerned officers of both the State and Union Government should sit together to resolve any issue impeding the smooth implementation of the projects,” Mishra added.
Chief Secretary assured Mishra that State Government is seriously pursuing the implementation of the projects and all concerned departments have been instructed to extend every assistance to the CPWD and NBCC authorities.
While reviewing progress of work on establishment of AIIMS like institutions in Awantipora and Vijaypur, CPWD was asked to prepare the DPR of the projects within next one month besides preparing an action plan for moving forward on pre and post project activities. The two Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama and Samba were instructed to extend all assistance required by the CPWD in preparing the DPR and the action plan for starting construction work at the sites.
Regarding Rs 188 crore project for construction of various buildings at NIT Srinagar, it was informed that the work on the construction of pre-fabricated hostel facilities has been started after permission from LAWDA in March 2016. For the construction of guest house, 1000 seater auditorium and 1000 bedded mega hostel, the CPWD was asked to complete the DPR along with estimates by September 30, 2016.
With regard to Central University Ganderbal, the Additional Secretary took serious note of slow pace and quality of work on the boundary wall around the land designated for the campus. He directed fixing responsibilities for technical negligence on the part of erring officials and sought action taken report within a week including the future course of action to be taken on the project.
In case of Saffron Park at Pampore, it was informed that 75% construction work on the Rs 28.35 crore park has been completed and rest will be completed by December 31, 2016.
Instructions were issued to CPWD and State Government officials to ensure that work on IIT Jammu is not delayed due to any bottlenecks and necessary steps be taken to enable start of academic session at the campus during next year.
Further, instructions were given with regard to other projects discussed during the meeting, for their early execution and timely completion.