Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today reviewed key development projects undertaken in the three Chenab Valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban and emphasized on their timely completion.
“The Chenab Valley area has very peculiar problems, which need to be addressed in a focused manner, in order to bridge the existing infrastructural gaps, keeping in mind the topography and difficult terrain,” she said chairing a high level meeting here.
The Chief Minister emphasized on timely completion of the projects like road communication, power, public health engineering, agriculture and health.
To augment the power sector in the region, Mehbooba asked the administrative secretary concerned to expedite the transmission and distribution works.
The Chief Minister asked the Tourism Department to develop world class tourism infrastructure in the area so that tourists visiting other parts of the state can also visit Chenab Valley region.
She urged development of various tourist circuits in the region viz Bhaderwah-Bhallessa-Jai tourist circuit.
The Tourism Department needs to create infrastructure for camping sites at various untapped locations like Tatta Paani in Marwah area of Kishtwar and explore trekking routes in areas like Padder, the Chief Minister said.
The meeting was informed that record allocation of Rs 554 crore for Phase-10 has been approved under which 74 projects have been sanctioned and progress of ongoing works has been accelerated, while as 42 works are being targeted for completion in this year.
Work are in progress for augmentation of Khellani Grid from 40 to 70 MVA at an estimated cost of Rs 6.42 cr and it will be commissioned by October and survey for re-conductoring of Udhampur-Kishtwar 132 KV Line 60 MW, 40 Km is going on, which will take around three months and will enhance the capacity from 60 to 100 MW, the spokesman said.
It was informed that for power distribution, Rs 119.35 cr, 81.28 cr and 127.50 cr will be sanctioned for Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts respectively under flagship schemes like RAPDRP, IPDS, RGGY-II, DDUGJY and PMDP, he said.
The Chief Minister gave directions to ensure buffer stock of transformers in the region to avoid any inconvenience to the people especially during the ensuing winter months.
She also stressed on the need for improving and upgrading the road connectivity in the Chenab Valley and issued instructions for expediting work on important roads under NABARD and CRF. .