No politics or regional bias in relief distribution, says Chief Minister
JK News Today
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today intervened during the Question Hour of the ongoing Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, reiterating his Government’s stance on land allotment for the landless and the distribution of relief for recent damages across regions.
Responding to a query raised by MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta on behalf of MLA Sham Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister said that the Government is not bringing any fresh policy as the existing framework adequately addresses the issue.
“The Minister has already given the correct answer. The question is not about the absence of a policy but whether there is a need for a fresh one. We are not introducing a new policy because there is no need for it,” the Chief Minister stated.
Elaborating on the Government’s initiative for the landless, Omar Abdullah said, “We have already announced that five marlas of land will be provided to landless families for construction of houses. The necessary paperwork is underway. For residents, the land will be allotted on a lease basis.”
Addressing concerns over regional parity in relief measures, the Chief Minister strongly refuted any suggestion of discrimination.
“Our policy is not to seek relief for one region while ignoring another. This was never our intention,” he emphasized.
The Chief Minister said that teams from the Government of India, including the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister, visited the affected areas to assess the damage alongside local authorities.
“After a joint assessment, it was observed that Jammu division has suffered comparatively more damage than Kashmir. Accordingly, we have prepared a relief package which is being submitted to the Government of India for approval,” Omar Abdullah informed the House.
He assured that once the package is approved, the distribution of relief funds will begin without any bias or favouritism.
“There will be no politics, no religion, and no regional discrimination in the distribution of relief. Where there is loss, there must be compensation,” the Chief Minister asserted.
Earlier, Minister Social Welfare Department, Sakeena Itoo said that the Government has not formulated any fresh rehabilitation policy for the recent flood victims.
However, a proposal regarding the allotment of State Iand measuring 05 Marla in favour of each land less family affected due to Natural Calamities (i.e. Floods, Landslide, cloudbursts, earthquakes) on lease basis for residential purposes only is under consideration.
Works on different projects being executed on fast-track basis in Anantnag Constituency: Deputy CM
‘DPR amounting to Rs. 499.25 lacs for Construction of Marriage Hall at Rani Bagh Anantnag prepared’
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today informed the Legislative Assembly that the works on all ongoing projects in Anantnag Constituency will be executed on fast track basis and completed timely.
The Deputy Chief Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Peerzada Mohammad Syed.
The Deputy CM informed the house that the DPR for Construction of the Marriage Hall at Rani Bagh for an amount of Rs. 499.25 lacs has been prepared and stands submitted to office of the Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Anantnag. However, the administrative approval is awaited.
He further informed that the department has raised various queries regarding non-completion of construction work of shopping complex building at Old SRTC Yard near DC Office Anantnag like requirement of Technical Sanction, vetting of structural drawings and other related issues with Housing and Urban Development department (HUDD), adding thay as and when the H&UDD responds to the observations of this department, the work on the said project shall be started in line with financial code and GFR (manual of works).
With regard to new Deputy Commissioner Office Complex in Anantnag, the Deputy CM informed that a Preliminary Project Report (PPR) amounting to Rs. 106.87 Crores has been prepared for the construction of the Mini Secretariat and has already been submitted to the office of Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag by the Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Division Anantnag. He added that, although no formal letter has been received for the preparation of DPR, it is currently under preparation in close consultation with the Chief Architect and work shall commence once land is free from any encumbrances, AAA is obtained, and funds are made available, in accordance with the GFR (Works Manual) and applicable financial codes.
Regarding the proposal for construction of Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) behind (MMABM) Hospital Janglat Mandi Anantnag on land owned by Municipal Committee Anantnag, the Deputy CM informed the house that no such communication has been received from the indenting department; as and when a formal request is received from the Tourism Department, the process for the Tourist Centre (TRC) shall be initiated as per the norms governing the said construction.
Agriculture, allied sectors suffered about Rs. 209 crores loss due to highway closure: Javid Dar
Minister for Agriculture Production department, Javid Ahmad Dar today informed the house that as per preliminary reports of the department around Rs. 209 Crores loss has been reported due to recent closure of National Highway by landslides and flash floods in agriculture and allied sectors.
The Minister made these remarks while replying a question raised by Legislator Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para in the legislative assembly today.
The Minister informed the house that under the Re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), Apple, Saffron, Mango and Litchi crops have been notified to provide cover. He added that the tendering process for selection of Insurance company (out of the empanelled Insurance companies notified by the GoI) to provide Insurance cover to these Horticulture crops is in process.
Regarding CA storage, the Minister said that the department is providing assistance for establishment of C.A. Storage units in the JKUT and the estimated requirement for Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage is 6.00 LMT, (30% of annual production fruit crops). He added that currently, Jammu and Kashmir has 2.92 LMT of capacity and the Department is contemplating to increase the C.A. Storage capacity in next five years through Centrally Sponsored Scheme Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) besides J&K Government is also providing top-up subsidy from UT Capex
The Minister also informed that various initiatives are undertaken by Government to support this expansion like Awareness/seminars are being conducted in each District to aware the youth about the incentives available for establishment of C.A. infrastructure and other post-harvest related activities. He added that as most CA stores are located in the Industrial Growth Centre at Lassipora, Pulwama, and the Industrial Estate at Aglar, Shopian, efforts are underway with the Industries and Commerce Department to establish sector-specific industrial estates for horticulture and post-harvest management in other districts.
Regarding the steps being taken for upgradation and improvement of Fruit Mandi at Pulwama and Rajpora, the Minister said that the Department has established two fruit and vegetable Markets in Pulwama district at Prichoo Pulwama and Pachhar Rajpora Pulwama, which have been made functional. He added that the basic infrastructure is available in these mandis, however, up-gradation and improvement of the mandis is a continuous process for which funds to the tune of Rs 1.28 Cr and Rs 3.68 Cr respectively have been earmarked for up-gradation under NABARD for the Year 2025-26.
With respect to measures being taken to revive the Market Intervention Scheme and to use NAFED model to support apple growers, the Minister informed that the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was announced by the Government of J&K in the year 2019 for procurement of Apple fruit crop through Government of India’s authorized Enterprise, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd. (NAFED) to provide benefit to the farmers by facilitating the timely marketing of farm produce during Covid-19 pandemic.
He also added that possibility of establishing in CA storage units in other districts apart from Pulwama is being explored to cater growing demands of horticulturists.
Legislators, M.Y Tarigami; Ghulam Mohidin Mir and Javid Riyaz Bedar raised supplementary questions on the subject.
Govt allocates Rs 505 Cr funds under C&T in J&K during 2025- 26 FY: Dy. CM
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today informed that the Government has allocated Rs 50, 556.9 lacs funds under Cities and Towns (C&T) and Rs 3268. 29 lacs under Potholes scheme in J&K during 2025- 26 Financial year.
The Dy. CM was replying to a question raised by Legislator Javid Hassan Baig in the Legislative Assembly today.
While sharing the District wise details, the Dy. CM said that the government will ensure quality work is carried out across Jammu and Kashmir and strict action shall be taken against the concerned if quality is compromised.
He said that the formulation of plans and allocation of funds in respect of Roads and Buildings are undertaken by the Government in accordance with established norms and approved procedures.
He said that the process is guided by the assessed requirements received from the field divisions and finalized keeping in view the availability of resources as well as the recommendations of the MLAs and District Development Council (DDC) Members.
He said that the objective is to ensure judicious and need-based allocation of funds for the execution of developmental works and maintenance activities under various schemes of the Department, so as to achieve balanced infrastructure development across all areas.
Supplementary were raised by Legislators including, R. S Pathania, S.S Slathia, Arvind Gupta and Pawan Kumar Gupta.
Construction of new Women’s Hostels under active consideration of Government Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo today said that the construction of new Women’s Hostels is under active consideration of the department, while as the possibility for establishing Women’s Hostel in district Kishtwar will be explored.
The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Legislator, Shagun Parihar regarding Women’s Hostels in Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister informed the house that 12 Women’s Hostels under the Higher Education department, with capacity of around 1200, are functional in various districts across Jammu and Kashmir. She also informed that 16 Girls Hostels are under construction in different colleges across Jammu and Kashmir. She added that several functional/ under construction Girls Hostels are also established under Skill Development department at various Polytechnic Colleges in Jammu and Srinagar.
Further, the Minister informed that under Social Welfare department, one Working Women Hostel is functional at Roop Nagar, Jammu with a capacity of 25 women, which includes dormitories, kitchen, library, washrooms, lawns, lobby, and daycare centre.
She also informed that the Department is in the process of establishing five newly approved Sakhi Niwas in the districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kathua, and Rajouri and suitable buildings have been identified and engagement of human resources is under process.
The Minister also added that the Health & Medical Education Department also provides hostel facilities through Nursing, Para-medical, and Girls Hostels for Medical Colleges, besides School Education Department also provides Hostel Facilities for Girls through KGBVs in various districts of J&K.
Rs. 451.99 lacs incurred on lift irrigation scheme Peth Devsar: Minister Jal Shakti
Minister for Jal Shakti Department, Javed Ahmad Rana today said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the lift irrigation scheme Peth Devsar was prepared at an estimated cost of Rs. 452.69 lacs under NABARD.
The Minister said that against this an expenditure of Rs. 451.99 lacs has been incurred till date. However, the scheme could not be commissioned as the cost of land has shot up from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 80.91 lakhs upon the promulgation of Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, (LARR Act) 2013 since August, 2019.
The Minister said this while replying a question by Legislator, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad in Legislative Assembly today.
He further stated that the department is currently examining the modalities for covering the balance funds as per revised rates/ guidelines.
He added that subsequent steps will be taken based on the outcome of this examination and in accordance with the applicable financial rules.
