4-member Committee constituted for transfer of land
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 4: The J&K Government today accorded approval to construction of 1680 transit accommodations for Kashmiri migrant employees appointed under Prime Minister’s package in six districts of Kashmir valley to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 201 crore.
Consequent upon the approval to the construction of these accommodations, the Government has also constituted a four Member Committee headed by Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department as its Chairman for identification and transfer of land to the Department of Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction. The other members of the Committee included Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Secretary to Government, Department of DMRR&R and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) as its co-opted member.
The Committee has been asked to finalize the transfer of land and other formalities by November 15 of this month and in this regard it is going to hold its first meeting at Srinagar tomorrow, official sources told Excelsior.
Out of the 1680 flats, 192 will be constructed at Marhama, Bijbehara in Anantnag district of South Kashmir at an area of 13 Kanals and 16 marlas of land while equal number of 192 flats will be constructed at Wandhama, Lar in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal on 30 kanals of land.
Three hundred and thirty six flats will be constructed for the migrant employees at Fatehpora in Baramulla district of North Kashmir on 40 kanals of land while 192 flats will be constructed at Allowpora, Keegam in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on 40 kanals of land.
At Odina, Sumbal in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, 480 flats will be constructed over 75 kanals of land while 288 flats will be raised at Khullangam Bagh, in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district over 36 kanals and 14 marlas of land.
In addition to it, as per official sources, the Relief and Rehabilitation Department is in the process of preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 40 kanals of land at Baba Daryadin in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district where about 300 flats are likely to be constructed, 100 kanals of land at Barsu in Pulwama district where about 600 flats will be constructed for migrant employees, 50 Kanals of land at Kotihar Shangus in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district where about 300 flats are to be constructed and 50 Kanals of land at Mattan in South Kashmir district of Anantnag where 400 flats are to be constructed.
The Government has urged the authorities to ensure that all clearances are in place before taking up the project work. The concerned construction authorities have also been directed to seek NOC from Regulatory Authority and Pollution Control Board before starting the construction work.
It may be recalled that presently there are 304 quarters available under Prime Minister’s Development Progarmme launched in 2015 by Narendra Modi Government at Vessu in Kulgam district and Sheikhpora in Budgam district. In addition to it, there are 18 quarters at Mattan and 200 additional quarters at Sheikhpora which were constructed during the 2003 -2004 by then Government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayed. Later, these quarters were also allotted to PM package employees and Kashmiri migrants from Budgam district who were staying in the Valley, sources said.
In addition to this, there are 250 prefabricated quarters at Vessu in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, 63 in Hawal in Pulwama district,130 at Veervan in Baramulla district and 60 in Natnussa in Kupwara district which have been allotted to PM package employees, sources added.
Sources aid that under PMDP -2015 there was a proposal of constructing 512 quarters at Vessu in Kulgam district and 96 in Sheikhpora in Budgam district. Out of this, 96 flats in Sheikhpora are almost complete while 10 percent work is incomplete on two towers which the authorities are hopeful will be completed by the end of this month.
However, the construction of flats at Vessu was delayed by JKPCC and out of 512 flats only 208 have been constructed while 304 are yet to be constructed.
Sources said that 48 sets at Vessu among the 208 flats were occupied by CRPF, however, they were got vacated from them by Relief and Rehabilitation Organisation early this year. Out of these 48 flats 32 were allotted to the Package employees putting up on shared basis at Vessu while 16 more quarters are under the occupation of Panches, Sarpanches, Councilors and SOG DySP.
Sources said on the three towers which are under construction at Vessu 80 percent work has been completed while on one tower 70 percent work has been completed and on remaining six towers 50 to 60 percent work has been completed.