KASHMIR HAPPY: PM announces addl 500 MW power, financial assistance for 40000 carpet looms, training for 8000 youth, admission for 8000 youth in ITIs

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Prime Minister (PM), Dr. Manmohan Singh has assured Jammu and Kashmir Government that Central Government shall provide full support to accelerate the economic reconstruction and revival process in the State. He fully agreed that J&K requires a priority position in the process of development and said that his office will ensure the monitoring of all priority development sectors mentioned by the Chief Minister during his presentation and ensure that all Union Ministries are coordinated to clear all pending projects and issue expeditious approval and sanctions wherever required without any delay.

Admitting the need of power particularly during winter months, PM announced additional power allocation up to 500 MW for the State. He further said that State will get approximately 1000 MW of power more from all such units which are at various stages of construction located in the State.

PM said this while chairing the high level meeting of economic reconstruction and revival of J&K State, here at Sher-i-Kshmir International Convention Centre ( SKICC), Srinagar.

The Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of State in PM’s Office, Mr. Prithvi Raj Chouhan, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Mr. T.K.A.Niar were present besides the Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleagues, Advisors, Chief Secretary and other top level civil officers were present in the meeting.

The Prime Minister while appreciating the importance of Mughal Road and conservation of world famous Dal Lake, announced approval of Mughal Roads revised cost of about Rs 640 crore and Rs.350 crore for rehabilitation of Dal and Nagin lakes. He said that Rs.125 crore have been earmarked specially this year for upgrading urban infrastructure in important towns of the State.

The Prime Minister while appreciating presentation made by the Chief Minister on PMGSY announced that Rs.227 crore additional funds will be provided to cover land acquisition costs under the scheme. He also approved Rs.235 crore as counterpart funding for ADB-II projects for J&K State.

While appreciating the points raised by the Chief Minister for addressing un-employment problem in the State, the Prime Minister said that the State government has rightly emphasized the question of increasing employment and employability among the youth. The Prime Minister said that the Government of India will readily support any initiative in this sector and shall work shoulder to shoulder and involve large number of youth in constructive nation building activities. He said that as part of the All India Initiatives, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs will enroll, deploy and manage around 8000 young persons from J&K as volunteers every year with honorarium of Rs. 2500/-per month.

On the point raised by the Chief Minister with regard to the Tourism, the Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Tourism will train up to 300 young persons every year from the State under the scheme “Hunar say Rozgar Tak” and similarly another 200 youth will be trained and deployed as tourist escorts. He further said that Union Ministry of Labour will arrange to host up to 8000 youth each year in the ITIs to take advantage of modular skill development programmes in sector with high employment potential.

The Chief Minister in his presentation, highlighting the importance of Handicrafts in the State, said that Carpet industry is required to be upgraded in the State, the Prime Minister agreed to favorably consider the request of the State government for providing finical assistance for replacement of 40,000 carpet looms in the State over a span of 5 years. He also announced new institute of fashion technology for the State.

The Prime Minister appreciated Union Ministry for New & Renewable Energy for preparing renewable energy Plan to minimize use of kerosene oil, diesel, and firewood in Ladakh region.

The prime Minister said that State Government is performing well and expected that State will strive further to accelerate the pace of development activities and ensure that common people actually get the full benefits of the schemes and projects. He expressed thanks to Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah and his colleagues for insightful presentation and meaningful intervention.

Earlier, the Chief Minister while highlighting the priority sectors in the State, including roads, energy, water supply, health, education and core sectors like tourism, agriculture and handicrafts informed the Prime Minister that in road sector the work on Mughal road is in full swing. The Narbal-Tangmarg Road at an estimated cost of Rs.116 crore and Khanabal-Phalgam Road at an estimate cost of Rs.110 Crore is under completion by March 2010, while as Domail- Katra Road at an estimated cost of Rs.34.46 crore is under completion by March 2010. He informed the Prime Minister that Nimo–Padam–Darchan Road at a cost of Rs.302.04 crore, Srinagar -Leh Road at a cost of Rs.190 crore, Srinagar-Uri Road at cost of Rs.357 crore, Batote-Kishtwar Road at a cost of Rs.655 crore are in progress.

Mr. Omar informed the Prime Minister that 885 schemes, sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.2222 crore for construction 4772 Km of road length under PMGSY shall cover over 2738 habitations. He also informed the Prime Minister that 226 PMGSY schemes have been completed. He said Lakhanpur to Nagrota by pass in Jammu and by pass Pantha Chowk to Primapura is in progress. He also informed the Prime Minister that under current State Plan Rs.210 crore have been provided for macadamization of roads and Rs. 75 crore for expediting bridge construction. He said 20 bridges are being completed during current year.

Mr. Omar informed the Prime Minister that while Baghligar Phase-I has been completed, DPR for Phase –II shall be ready by November end. He also informed him that Kiru project with 600MW, Kawar with 520 MW, Pakuldul with 1000 MW and Raple with 690 MW capacities are being taken up by State Government under the joint venture model.

He also informed the Prime Minister that under APDRP as many as 95 receiving stations, 4141 Sub-stations have been renovated and modernized while 66 receiving stations have been constructed. He requested for transfer of Dul Hasti power project to the State as recommended by Dr. Rangarajan committee and said that financial support for booking 1000 MW capacity in thermal projects, equity contribution of Rs. 1000 crore for Baghlhaar phase-II need consideration. He also said that Srinagar -Leh transmission line at an estimated cost of Rs.640 crore needs to be implemented.

While giving presentation of PHE sector, the Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that under ARWSP Rs.1432 crore have been utilized till date, while as Rs.50.20 crore have been utilized under Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme. He said that for augmenting water supply to Srinagar and Jammu under ADB Rs.221 crore projects have been taken up.

The Prime Minister was informed that under NRHM the schemes worth Rs.278 crore are being implemented while as Rs.120 crore under PMRP for upgradation of Medical College, Jammu including creation of 15 Super specialties. Similarly, Rs.120 crore for upgradation of Srinagar Medical College with 9 super specialisties under PMRP are in progress. He said that 85 CHCS, 375 PHCs, 238 ADS and 1097 Sub Centers have been strengthened.

The Chief Minister and the Cabinet Ministers thanked the Prime Minister for sanctioning two Central Universities for the State and 18 Polytechnics proposed to be set up in the State. The Chief Minister said that with the cost of Rs.1312 crore SSA has been major success in J&K. He also said that all the 24 degree colleges at an estimated cost of Rs. 98 crore have been made functional.

He said that 12 Tourist Development Authorities have been established at a cost of Rs.240 crore and Lakhanpur—Simthan-Anantnag tourist circuit at a cost of Rs.21.79 crore has been established. Similarly 50 tourist villages at a cost of Rs.30.50 crore have been established.

On this occasion all the Cabinet Ministers including Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Tara Chand, Finance Minister, Mr. A.R. Rather, Education Minister Mr. Peerzada Mohammad Syed, Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Forest & Environment & Ecogoly, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Mr. S.S. Salathia, Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Social Welfare Ms Sakina Itoo, Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports Mr. R.S, Chib, CAPD Minister, Minister for Revenue, Mr. Raman Bhalla, Mr. Qamar Ali Akhoon also deliberated in the interaction programme. All the concerned Ministers pointed out a various achievements of their departments and projected different issues concerning their departments. The Prime Minister appreciated all the interventions and assured them that his office will take up all these issues with concerned Union Ministries.

The Chief Secretary, Mr. S.S. Kapur while expressing thanks to the Prime Minister, Union Ministers and other senior level officers of the Central government for their keen interest in the economic reconstruction and revival of Jammu and Kashmir State, said that the vision of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers of State and the Chief Minister to make J&K a Modal State shall be translated in later and sprit and the entire administration will remain dedicated for this mission.