MHA sanctions construction of 6000 flats for migrants in Valley

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 3: The Union Home Ministry has accorded sanction for the construction of 6000 additional transit accommodation units in Kashmir valley for the migrant employees whom State Government jobs will be provided under Prime Minister’s package of 2015.
As per the official figures, 608 new flats are being constructed in two districts of Kashmir valley under the package. Out of it, 512 flats are being built at Vessu in Kulgam district and 96 flats in Sheikhpora of Budgam district by the Jammu Kashmir Projects Constructing Corporation (JKPCC) for the migrant employees appointed or to be appointed under PM package at an estimated cost of Rs 175.83 crore.
Till date, an amount of Rs 30.00 crore has been released and placed at the disposal of JKPCC, the figures revealed.
Providing of jobs to displaced people from Valley is being done under a two pronged strategy by the Government. Besides, providing a livelihood to a displaced family, the Government wants to provide the chance to displaced families to link it to their roots.
Accordingly, employment package was announced in 2009 and as per the data, 3000 posts covering eight departments were created by the Government. Under the said package 2900 candidates were appointed on different posts till date.
Besides, additional 3000 supernumerary posts have been also created by the Government on September 29 last year vide Government order Number 58-R&R of 2017, the data revealed.
Out of it 228 posts were created in PWD, 600 in Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, 240 in PDD, 50 in Youth Services and Sports, 320 in Education, 220 in Rural Development Department, 135 in Transport Department, 34 in Labour & Employment Department, 125 in Industries and Commerce, 150 in PHE and I & FC, 84 in Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department, 150 in Planning and Development, 300 in Finance, 172 in Animal & Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries, 70 in Health & Medical Education, 100 in Revenue, 200 in J&K Prison Department, 142 in Fire & Emergency Department , 62 in Relief and Rehabilitation Department and 158 in J&K Police.
Out of these 3000 posts, 2575 posts have been referred to the concerned recruiting agencies and remaining 425 posts are being referred to the recruiting agencies shortly, it said.
Moreover there are 195 temples and other religious places in dilapidated conditions. Out of them 56 are in Anantnag district, 17 in Kulgam, one in Bandipora, 23 in Baramulla, 14 in Budgam, 21 in Pulwama, 11 in Shopian, 28 in Kupwara, 19 in Srinagar and five in Ganderbal district.
Interestingly the Government has denied that there has been any encroachment of religious places of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley except one in Srinagar which was also removed by the authorities. However, the Pandits are alleging that many religious places and shrines were encroached not only by mafia groups but the Government agencies also for construction of health centers, PHE pumping stations etc.
The figures further revealed that Kashmiri migrants have left over 85749 kanals of land in Kashmir valley as per official records since 1996 to 2002. Out of it 12106 kanals of land was left in Baramulla district of North Kashmir while 4604 kanals in Budgam district, 7900 kanals in Kulgam district, 8563 kanals in Pulwama district, 13834 kanals in Kupwara district, 2154 kanals in Ganderbal district, 10696 kanals in Shopian district, 17991 kanals in Anantnag district , 6695 kanals in Srinagar district and 1206 kanals in Bandipora district.
What has come as a rude shock to Kashmiri Pandits is that Government has totally denied that there is any proposed Bill for the protection of properties of Hindu religious places and shrines in Kashmir valley -a long pending demand of the Kashmiri Hindus.
It may be recalled that Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding for years together the passage of Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill for protection of their religious places and temples in Valley which are the heritage monuments.

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