*Seeks people’s cooperation in making up for losses
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Setting the execution of World Bank-funded Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) rolling, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti laid foundation of first of its kind Disaster Centre and widening of road project from Mehjoor Nagar to Nowgam here today.
The $250 million JTFRP was formally launched by the Chief Minister last month and the project envisages recovery and reconstruction of critical infrastructure, capacity building and livelihood in the State under which major roads, bridges, schools etc. would be re constructed and capacity of emergency response units like hospitals, emergency services etc enhanced. The project would be executed in the State by Department of Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Disaster Management.
Interacting with the people on the occasion, the Chief Minister said her Government has envisioned a developmental revolution for the Srinagar city but regretted that much could not be done this summer due to the turmoil. She appealed people to facilitate Government in taking forward the developmental activities. She said people rightly have expectations with her Government and she would represent the aspirations of the people to every forum.
The Disaster Centre near Srinagar airport would be used in case of emergencies like earthquakes, floods etc to provide relief and rescue to the people and can also be used to manage the operations during the crises times.
The Disaster Centre would be equipped with a control room, emergency operations centre, hospital, SDRF unit and other equipments which could be used in case of disasters. It would have facilities of secretariat and a cabinet room to function in case of natural disasters. To be completed in two years, the Centre would provide the necessary back up support to the Government in its response to various natural calamities.
On the occasion, Mehbooba Mufti inaugurated the Emergency Operations Centre from a pre-fab structure which has started functioning from today. To begin with, it has been equipped with telephone numbers and staff who could be contacted in case of any eventuality.
Later, a similar Centre would be set up at Jammu and at each district headquarters.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation of widening of road from Mehjoor Nagar to Nowgam via Padshahi Bagh. The road project would help in decongesting traffic on the Natipora-Chanapora-Rambagh axis and it would also give direct and easy access from Jawahar Nagar to Railway Station at Nowgam. The project would cost Rs 14 crore.
Minister for R&B, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Minister for Revenue, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction & Disaster Management, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, legislators, Syed Altaf Bukhari and Saifuddin Bhat, Financial Commissioner, Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Disaster Management, B. B. Vyas besides officers of divisional administration were present on the occasion.
Later, Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of an Infertility Centre, Gynecological Oncology, Foetal Medicine and High Risk Pregnancy block at Lal Ded Hospital here today.
To be built over a cost of Rs. 41 crore, the work on the project would start from next week and all the designs have been approved by the technical experts of the World Bank.
It may be recalled the additional block is a component of capacity building under the $ 250 million World Bank project which is being executed in the State by Department of Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction & Disaster Management.
She also inaugurated a faculty guest house of the Government Medical College at Bemina. The guest house has residential facilities for experts, consultants and senior doctors coming to Srinagar from outside.
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