Work on Shopian-Aglar road project to resume as weather improves: Dy CM

JAMMU : Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, On monday informed the House that the work on the Shopian- Aglar road project would resume once the weather improves.

The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Advocate Shabir Ahmad Kullay.
He informed that the Shopain-Pinjora road under nomenclature of “Shopian to Aglar road” was approved under PMGSY Incentive Fund during 2024-2025 and the allotment has been issued in October 2024. He apprised that 3.50 Km road length has been completed before the winter season while the remaining work will be resumed with improvement in the prevailing weather conditions.
The Deputy Chief Minister further informed the house that the Shopian to Keegam (9 km) is being maintained by the PWD as part of NH-444. While as Keegam-Daramdora and Daramdora- Mazhama-Gaberpora-Yedpora roads were taken up and completed under NABARD RIDF XXVI in the year 2021-22. Both the roads are in good condition and also in DLP, stated the Minister.
He said that the Keegam-Hajicheck-Marheng road was taken up under NABARD RIDF XXVII and completed in the year 2022-23 and the road is in good condition and also in DLP.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the Chowan-Batfojan road was constructed under PGMSY and is in good condition and renewal coat on the road was laid during 2021-2022.

Strengthening healthcare facilities, filling vacancies being undertaken: Health Minister
31 healthcare facilities upgraded in Rajpora Constituency
Minister for Health, Sakeena Itoo, today affirmed Government’s commitment towards strengthening the existing health infrastructure and filling up of all vacancies in the health sector.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Mir in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that J&K is one of the top runners among the large States/UTs (with population more than 1 crore) in health institution density in the country. She informed that the report published in 2023 by MoHFW, Gol, indicates that J&K has health institution on every 3500 souls against an average 6000 souls at national level. Moreover, the feasibility for up-gradation and establishment of new ones are examined in terms of IPHS-2022 norms.
Referring to the healthcare services in Rajpora Constituency, the Minister informed that out of a total of 34 health facilities 31 have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) to provide improved packages of services to the local population.
She said that the CHC Rajpora, which is in proximity to District Hospital Pulwama (11 km), is already catering to secondary-level healthcare services to the residents of the area.
Regarding the manpower, the Minister informed that the CHC Rajpora has sanctioned strength of 07 specialists, 12 Medical Officers, and 54 paramedical staff.
The Minister maintained that the upcoming Tertiary Care facility AIIMS, Awantipora, Kashmir, is also strategically located at a distance of 25 Km. So, it would be improper to say that the healthcare facilities in Rajpora Constituency have not been upgraded to next level in so many years, she maintained.
The Minister informed that, as of now, J&K is working on consolidation of existing healthcare facilities as around 4000 health institutions at various levels (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary) exists.

365 Medical Officers appointed in November 2024, 181 more in process: Sakeena Itoo
Additional 100 bedded hospital under construction in Kishtwar
JAMMU, MARCH 10: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that the government is upgrading the existing healthcare infrastructure and facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.
The Minister said this while replying to a starred question raised by Shagun Parihar in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister said that, at present, the District Hospital Kishtwar is functioning as 100 bedded Hospital and an additional 100 bedded Hospital building is under construction adjoining to the existing IPD Block of the DH Kishtwar.
While speaking on Traumatic Centre facility in DH Kashmir, the Minister said that a Designated Trauma Care Centre nearest to Kishtwar is situated at Thathri at a distance of 30 Km. She informed that all the trauma cases are being handled by the Emergency Room of DH Kishtwar where all specialist Doctors like Surgeons, Ortho, Anaesthetists and Physician and ample number of Medical Officers and Para-medics are posted for handling the emergencies 24X7.
The Minister further informed the house that currently DH Kishtwar has 11 consultants, 8 medical officers and 2 dental surgeons for the patients besides other paramedical staff.
The Minister remarked that the department has fast tracked the recruitment process of doctor and medical professionals. She highlighted that in the month of November 2024, 365 selectees were appointed as Medical Officers in the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services, who have been posted in the far-flung/peripheral healthcare facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.
She also informed that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist in respect of 91 selected Medical Officers, whose services will also be utilized in the under-served areas across the UT of J&K.
Moreover, the Minister informed that 181 posts of Medical Officers are still to be received from Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and upon receiving these selections, the selected doctors will be posted in the health institutions experiencing staff shortages.

196 Govt Educational institutes functional in four zones of Baramulla: Sakeena Itoo
Rationalization of staff initiated, expected soon
Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that there are 196 Government Educational Institutions functional in the four educational zones of Baramulla district including Higher Secondary, High, Middle and Primary Schools in educational zones of Barramulla, Chandoosa, Fatehgarh, Singhpora-Kalan catering to educational needs in the district.
The Minister informed that only three Principal and five Headmaster posts falling in Zone Baramulla, Chadoosa and Fatehgarh are vacant.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Javed Hassan Beig in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that as many as 22 buildings have been declared as unsafe in education zones of Baramulla District. She said that about 29 construction works were initiated under Earthquake Reconstruction Programme 2005 and SSA to facilitate better educational infrastructure facilities to students in Barmmulla.
The Minister further informed that the construction of new buildings for abandoned ones and completion of incomplete buildings are being proposed under SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, Capex and District Capex UT. Besides, the process for rationalisation of teaching staff in district Baramulla like other districts has been initiated and is expected to take effect soon.
She said that about 90 lower rung teaching and non-teaching staff has also been promoted to the next higher level through DPCs in district Baramulla during the last two years.

Rs 1276 cr, 200 Cs water lifting scheme not taken up due to non- availability of funding agency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that the proposal for lifting 200 cusecs drinking water from Chenab River for its use in Jammu city with an estimated cost of Rs. 885 crore was not funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the year 2013-14.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Sham Lal Sharma in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that a revised estimate to the tune of Rs. 1276 crore was prepared in August 2022. However, the same could not be taken up further because of the non- availability of funding agency, he added.