5,200 of 6,000 Kashmiri Pandit PM Package Flats Ready Across 20 J&K Spots

Srinagar: Nearly 5,200 of the total 6,000 flats for the accommodation of Kashmiri Pandit employees under the Prime Minister's package have been completed at 20 locations across the valley, an official spokesman said here on Wednesday.

He said a meeting to review the ongoing and new projects of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) was held under the joint chairmanship of Anil Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, PW(R&B) Department; and Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, DMRR&R.

It was informed that out of 6,000 flats approved for accommodation of PM Package employees at 20 locations across Kashmir Valley, 5,176 flats have been completed, the spokesman said.

Besides, allied works including installation of lifts, internal roads, drainage and community halls are also nearing completion at most sites, he said.

The spokesman said specific deadlines for completion of balance works and handover/ takeover were fixed, with directions to hand over the possession of completed flats to the eligible employees in a phased manner according to allotments already made under the government norms.

Regarding major repair and renovation of various blocks at migrant camps in Jammu, for which the government has approved Rs 82.45 crore, it was informed that tender formalities have been completed and work is likely to start shortly, he said.

The directions were also issued for the finalisation of a detailed project for upgradation of infrastructure in the migrant schools, health dispensaries, internal roads and parks in the migrant camps, the spokesman said.

He said that an extensive review of the construction of PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) Bhawan at Suketar was also held with emphasis on completing the project in all respects within the current financial year.

The chief engineer, PW(R&B) Jammu, apprised the meeting that the detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of additional flats for Kashmiri migrants at Purkhoo, Jammu is being finalised and the multipurpose community hall at Jagti with an estimated cost of Rs 6.50 crore has been completed.

It was further informed that tender formalities are in progress for new projects with an approximate financial implication of Rs 20 crore at migrant camps Purkhoo, Nagrota, Muthi and Jagti in the current financial year, the spokesman said.