India
oi-Ashish Rana
The government has started a major repair and renovation work in migrant camps across Jammu to help displaced Kashmiri Pandit families. The work will cover more than 200 buildings and around 5,000 flats, along with community halls and other common facilities.
Jammu’s migrant camps housing displaced Kashmiri Pandit families are undergoing major repairs and renovations affecting over 200 buildings and 5,000 flats, funded by an Rs 82.45 crore government project.
An official said on Sunday that this is the biggest repair and renovation work carried out in these migrant camps so far. Camps such as Jagti and others in Jammu were mainly built between 2004 and 2011 under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Programme.
Families living in these camps have been asking for repairs and better basic facilities for a long time. Many buildings and common areas have become old and now need major repair and improvement.
Migrant Families Had Sought Infrastructure Repairs
Migrant families residing in these camps had for long been seeking comprehensive repairs, renovation and improvement of basic infrastructure as the buildings and common facilities aged and required substantial intervention.
Relief and Rehabilitation (Migrants), J&K, Arvind Karwani, who inspected the ongoing developmental works in Jagti and Nagrota migrant camps along with a team of senior officers, emphasised upon conducting a structural audit of all buildings and instructed to ensure good quality of works in due consultation with the public and concerned camp commandants.
5,000 Flats To Be Covered Under Repair Programme
Karwani said the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) has initiated major repair and renovation works across migrant camps in Jammu, covering more than 200 building blocks, around 5,000 flats, community halls and other common facilities.
Besides the department has formulated a comprehensive project for development of internal roads and lanes, development of parks and face lifting of all migrant schools, health dispensaries and Sub-District Hospital Jagti, he said.
Rs 82.45 Crore Approved For Development
The government has recently accorded administrative approval involving financial implications of Rs 82.45 crore for undertaking these works.
During the visit, the relief and rehabilitation commissioner reviewed the status of basic amenities like safe drinking water, power supply and sanitation in the camps and instructed the officers of the Jal Shakti Department to take all requisite measures to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the camps and press adequate water tanker supply in the operation to supplement the water shortage as and when required.
Rs 10 Crore Water Supply Project For Jagti
For long term solution, the Jal Shakti Department has conceived a major project with tentative financial implication of about Rs 10 crore for augmentation of the water supply in Jagti township.
Karwani emphasised upon conducting of water quality tests at frequent intervals to ensure clean and hygienic drinking water supply to the camp residents.
Sewage Treatment Plants Planned In Three Camps
The Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) involving financial implications of about Rs 11.5 cr have been finalised for migrant camps in Nagrota, Muthi-Buta Nagar and Purkhoo, on the lines of similar STP functional at Jagti township and work will commence shortly.
Community Halls To Support Women SHGs, Students
The official said the tender formalities for construction of multi-purpose community halls in all migrant camps involving about Rs 20 cr are in final stages.
This infrastructure is envisaged to provide space for self help groups especially women SHGs, library facility for students and promotion of culture and heritage.
3,000 Families Benefit From Welfare Schemes
Regarding extension of social sector schemes to the migrants, Karwani said nearly 3,000 families have availed benefits of social sector schemes, subsequent to the digitization and integration of the migrant ration cards into the national database.
The next round of outreach camps is starting from September 30 at various locations in Jammu to disseminate awareness and facilitation in filling of online applications about various social sector and welfare schemes, self employment and skill development schemes of the government, he said.
Weekly Visits To Monitor Development Work
He said senior officers of the relief organization were directed to ensure weekly visits in the camps assigned to them and take stock of all development works and grievances of the camp inmates, including those related to immovable properties in Kashmir Valley.
The officers were also directed to supervise door-to-door campaign launched to reach out to all potential eligible beneficiaries of social sector and welfare schemes and facilitate them with documentation and filling of online applications for these schemes, he said.
