Govt determined to develop qualitative infrastructure : Sinha

Jammu, Jan 8 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt-Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today said the government was determined to develop qualitative infrastructure across the state to achieve the goal of a prosperous J and K.

Addressing the joint sitting of state Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, the Governor said the government is also according high priority to road connectivity across the state.

The Governor said during the current year, 170 kms of roads have been black-topped, 220 kms metalled, 290 kms shingled and 380 kms of fair weather roads constructed.

''About 2500 schemes including those funded by NABARD and Central Road Fund (CRF) are under execution. The work on Mughal road, Khanabal-Pahalgam and Narbal-Tangmarg roads is in full swing. For time-bound implementation of PMGSY, a separate post of Chief Engineer and thirteen dedicated divisions have been created. The targets under PMGSY includes connecting 1643 habitations with an investment of Rs 4000 crore achieving a cumulative road length of 5765 km. by March 2009,'' he said.

He said in order to utilise the limited working season to the maximum, a double shift system of work execution was introduced last year and a number of schemes taken up under this innovative scheme.

''It has been possible to complete a number of important projects under this system which include bridges at Kunzer, Naidkhai, Bomthan, Kadapora and Balhole. The building of Customs-cum-Immigration Centre at Chakan-Da-Bagh in district Poonch was constructed in a record time of two months,'' he added.

The Governor said providing of clean drinking water is of high priority of government and the target under Bharat Nirman Programme is to cover the hitherto not-covered and partially-covered, slipped-back and newly emerged habitations in the state by March 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs 2036 crore.

He said As many as 1197 habitations are targeted for the current year under Minimum Needs Programme and Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme. Work under Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme at a cost of Rs 39.26 crore is under progress in 10 towns namely Ganderbal, Kupwara, Achabal, Kulgam, Akhnoor,Lakhanpur, Nagriparole, Poonch, Nowshera and Thanamandi, while work in Katra town at a cost of Rs. 8.68 crore is complete, he added.

''Twenty-six major medium irrigation schemes at a cost of Rs 525 crore are under execution. Under the Flood Control sector, four major projects namely Jhelum, Devika, Chenab and Tawi are approved for execution of critical anti-erosion works at a cost of Rs 30.08 crore for the current year with 90 % central funding. As you are aware the government took prompt action in handling the floods of August-September 2006,'' he said.

He said the government is implementing through the Economic Reconstruction Agency, the Asian Development Bank aided Multi-Sector Infrastructural Rehabilitation Project Phase-I of Rs 1611 crore for rehabilitation and construction of 900 km road length, 41 bridges and several water supply and drainage works.

''The ADB Project Phase-II of Rs 2038.5 crore has also been sanctioned. The priority sectors in the 2nd phase are water supply, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, transport and urban infrastructure. Efforts are on to ensure expeditious implementation of the projects, he added.

The Governor said the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Integrated Development Scheme for small and medium Towns and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme have been launched last month.

''The high point of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission is that Srinagar and Jammu cities have been included among 63 cities in the country to be taken up as Mission cities.,'' he added.

The city development plans for Jammu and Srinagar have been prepared at costs of Rs 4120 crore and Rs 4206 crore, respectively.

Over the next seven years, all the towns of the state are being brought within the ambit of these schemes, the Governor said.

UNI