Meets CS, Admn Secys; reviews issues of KPs, refugees
Progress on power projects, investments too figure
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 28: A high-level team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on first day of its three-day visit here today called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta separately and held two to three meetings in the Civil Secretariat with senior officers reviewing with them progress on industrial investments, power projects, tourism, transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrants and other important schemes being implemented for Kashmiri migrants, Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and West Pakistani refugees and other displaced persons.
Headed by Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh) in the Union Home Ministry and comprising Director Security among others, the team called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan this afternoon and were reported to have discussed with him issues pertaining to security scenario and development among others.
However, there was no official statement on what transpired at the meeting.
The Home Ministry team, deputed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for detailed assessment of the situation during three days visit, also called on Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta separately to take feedback on development works especially those being executed under Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
“A detailed assessment was held on the projects being executed under various Central funded schemes,” sources said, adding almost all projects are set to meet timelines to avoid cost overrun.
Later, the Home Ministry team met some Administrative Secretaries to discuss progress on industrial investments, power projects, works related to tourist, anti-encroachment drive, which has temporarily been suspended, and Land Rules.
An in-depth review was also held about transit accommodation for Kashmiri migrant staff and other major issues pertaining to the migrants; PoJK and West Pakistani refugees and other displaced persons, sources said.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration is understood to have given detailed briefing to visiting team of the Union Home Ministry on the issues of Kashmiri Pandit migrants, PoJK and West Pakistani refugees and other displaced persons.
A proposal has already been mooted by the Union Territory administration to give land rights to West Pakistani refugees and other displaced persons and some PoJK migrants who have been left out.
The Lieutenant Governor had ordered release of salary for all migrant Package employees who have joined their duties back to the Valley.
However, the Package as well as Reserved Category employees continued to hold protest here demanding their relocation till situation is normal in the Valley.
Review of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir with senior officers of civil and police administration including Additional Chief Secretary (Home) RK Goyal and Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh, by the Home Ministry team is scheduled for tomorrow.
Deputed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the MHA team will be in Jammu for three days and will return to New Delhi on March 2. It will submit report to Shah.
Security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley is constantly being reviewed by the Union Home Ministry and Jammu and Kashmir Government and it has been well under control excepting occasional targeted killings.
The anti-militancy operations are in full swing in the Valley and number of militants including top commanders of various outfits have been eliminated or apprehended. Police and other security agencies are also targeting Over Ground Workers (OGWs) network in the Valley as well as Jammu region.
Recently, a high-level meeting was also held by the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi to discuss phased replacement of Army from some districts of Jammu and Kashmir and its replacement with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). However, this issue is not on agenda of visiting Home Ministry’s team with Jammu and Kashmir administration.
A number of projects are under execution under PMDP in Jammu and Kashmir besides various works are going on under different Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The works are progressing smoothly, they added.
Few days back, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officers from civil and police administration in New Delhi to discuss security situation, development works and anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir.
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