Jammu & Kashmir - Projects and Development

[sanjusky]

Government mulling three tunnels in Kashmir-The three proposed tunnels will connect Kargil, Gurez and Tangdhar, which are otherwise cut off from mainland India during winter months

Srinagar: Government is mulling to dig three tunnels in strategic border areas of Kashmir to provide the year round connectivity to soldiers and civilians alike.

The three proposed tunnels will connect Kargil, Gurez and Tangdhar, which are otherwise cut off from mainland India during winter months.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already agreed to conduct survey of Razdan pass next year to construct a tunnel.

The tunnel at Razdan pass will connect Gurez, a strategic valley situated on the Line of Control. Experts say that constructing the Gurez tunnel would give India an upper hand over Pakistan in the area, which is often used as an infiltration route by militants.

“Similar tunnels are also proposed for Sadhna and Zojila passes,” Abdullah said The two tunnels would connect Tanghdar and Kargil respectively.

These regions are also geographically spectacular and will prove a boon for tourism sector, once provided with year round and hassle free connectivity.

Early this year government approved 4.50 km tunnel connecting Kashmir valley with Kishtwar district of Jammu division at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore in private public partnership with Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

http://www.igovernment.in/site/gover...-kashmir-38977

[anidel]

+1000000000 we need 24X7X365 day connectivity with the kashmir. At the time of kargil war pakistan have cut off our supplier and Indian Army trucks have to move in the night with their headlights off so that pakistani can't see them and not destroy them with artillery shelling.

As china is building high speed rail link with pakistan to the Gwadar port to reach Gulf region. The pakistanis have already occupied high peaks to cut off kashmir from India.

That was the prime reason for kargil attack by pakistan, even after the kargil war pakistanis still occupies peak that can see and harm directly the National Highway - 1.

So, more and more link are the only option.

[sanjusky]

J&K mulls to roll out SWAN

It is mulling to inter-connect all the government offices of the state through State Wide Area NetworkSrinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is mulling to inter-connect all the government offices of the state through State Wide Area Network (SWAN) which envisages a common and high speed data network, aimed at promoting transparency and efficiency.

Minister for Information Technology and Science and Technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said that SWAN will be of immense benefit to people of the state.

“The intra-state network subsequently will be connected with the national network, aiming at modernization of communication infrastructure and improving administrative efficiency and quality of service to the common man,” Ruhullah said.

“With the help of this programme, the citizens will get effective government services with easy access through single window system.”

Government hopes that once the system is in place, it will greatly help in fighting corruption at various levels in the state. Ruhullah said that many more steps have also been taken to promote e-Governance in the state.

For making Common Services Centres (CSC) service more effective, Aga Ruhullah said that they will be connected with broadband facility. Out of 1109 Common Services Centres assured to set up by J&K Bank in the State, 491 stands established and is fully functional.

The CSCs are providing B2C services to the consumers at Khidmat Centres including banking correspondence, micro finance, mobile recharge, air and railway ticketing, sale of solar lights and digital photography the meeting was informed.

The 135 blocks have Community Information Centres with V-sat connectivity, computer terminals and printing facilities, the meeting was informed.

According to officials, 24 services of 11 departments under G2C service and State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG) scheme would be provided to the people. “50 computers will be provided in every district and 7 services will be provided in first phase,” an official said

http://www.igovernment.in/site/jk-mu...out-swan-39054

[World8115]

Nice updates sanju All year connectivity is very much needed for Kashmir

[sanjusky]

Originally Posted by World8115

Nice updates sanju All year connectivity is very much needed for Kashmir

Thnx World8115..Hope the Momentum gets Going so that we can witness a new
J/K in another 5-10 yrs

[sanjusky]

Centre to build 100 MW geo-thermal projects in J&K: Farooq

Jammu, Jan 10 (PTI) Assuring Jammu and Kashmir of complete assistance for harnessing resources in the renewable energy sector, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today said the Centre is working on to launch 100 MW geo-thermal projects in Reasi and other feasible areas of the state.
"We are working to launch 100 MW geo-thermal energy projects in Reasi and other feasible areas in J&K and bidder project would be a pilot project in this regard," Abdullah, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, said at a meeting here.
He asked the state government to provide schemes for introducing solar lighting and water heating systems in government institutions, hostels, civil secretariat complexes, official residences at Srinagar and Jammu.
"This would save your non-conventional energy to a greater extent and help its utilisation in other fields," he added.
The minister advised the state to make its construction policy more eco-friendly and dependent on solar and non-conventional energy resources.
The meeting was informed that Union Ministry has sanctioned 68 villages in Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian for electrification under MNRE projects.
The meeting was also told that under the comprehensive programme of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, photovoltaic solar lights, solar power plants, grid connections and water heating systems are being provided.
Under this scheme remote village electrification programme is being helped by giving 90 per cent subsidy to the project cost.
It was informed that about 31,000 solar lights are being provided to people in various un-electrified areas involving an expenditure of Rs 68.59 crores.
It was stated that as many as 9,250 solar lanterns have been distributed in remote and far flung areas.
The Ministry is also giving nod to various proposals pertaining to the energy parks at various institutions and special projects for shrines, universities and colleges.

http://news.in.msn.com/business/arti...mentid=4786166

[India101]

J&K gets Rs 190 crore for power reforms

Srinagar: Union Power Ministry has approved Rs 190 crore Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Program (R-APDRP) for 30 major towns of Jammu and Kashmir.

The ailing power sector of the state has been reeling under the defective transmission, revenue deficit and heavy power losses. The program is expected to help state improve its power infrastructure at par with rest of India.

State government has received a formal approval from Union Power Ministry. Under the programme the state will receive central assistance of Rs 151.99 crore whereas rest will be borne by the state.

According to State Power Development Department officials, the R-APDRP is primarily aimed at reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and improving the quality of power delivery. The program will be completed in six years.

J&K has one of the highest Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in entire India. Last fiscal it was 65.78 per cent whereas this year AT&C losses have zoomed upto 72 per cent creating huge gaps between projected revenue realization and the actual revenue realized against the Power Purchase Bill.

R-APDRP is a two phased programme which will be completed in six years. It will cover urban areas, towns and cities with population of more than 30,000 souls. The Power Finance Corporation will be the nodal agency for implementing the programme.

[World8115]

J&K Govt to launch City Mobility Plan for Jammu & Srinagar

Source

The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that Government is contemplating to launch a comprehensive City Mobility Plan for the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar to streamline traffic movement, improve and upgrade road networks, introduce additional commuter facilities including launch of metro service and other programmes in a planned and balanced manner.

“We have already tied up with a national agency RITES to make detailed studies and finalize a report for the purpose. We expect the Agency to start his work in this regard by March this year”, he said adding that the requirement of additional flyovers and bridges in Jammu and Srinagar cities would be conceptualized in this mega development strategy.

Omar Abdullah was speaking in the Jammu District Development Board meeting, said that the culture of Traffic Lights to manage movement of vehicles in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu is yet to be cultivated and Government is also working with two reputed companies to make studies and formulate DPR for this purpose. “Perhaps Jammu and Srinagar are only capital cities in the Country where traffic is not managed by Traffic Lights”, he said adding that this aspect needs focus of attention.

The meeting chaired by the Chief Minister was attended by the Minister for Medical Education, R. S. Chib, Minister for Revenue and Relief, Raman Bhalla, Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Chairmen, Advisory Boards, legislators, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary PWD, K. B. Agarwal and senior officers.

Omar said that the 1.20 kilometres flyover road project at Bikram Chowk at a cost of Rs. 91.35 crore and 6-lanning BC Road project at a cost of Rs. 43.9 crores have already been finalized and sent for Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding. He said the 1.9 kilometre Bikram Chowk, road project envisages two sub-ways and one overhead bridge. “We are expecting a team from ADB here shortly to finalize the projects”, he said.

Omar said that he has already released Rs. 1 crore for the development of city roads in Jammu and another Rs. 1 crore is being released shortly. He said Jammu Municipal Corporation has been allotted Rs. 30 lakhs for the development of lanes and drains. “Soon we receive utilization certificates of these funds next installments will be released”, he added.

“Government is also contemplating a new corridor for Poonch-Rajouri bound traffic Bye-passing Jammu city areas”, he said adding that the R&B Department has been asked to make studies for formulating a project to this effect under centrally sponsored scheme of viability gap funding. He said Rs. 19 crores have been earmarked for rural roads in Jammu district in the current District Development Plan and a bridge at Sangad in Nagrota constituency stands preferred to NABARD for funding.

He said that Border Security Force (BSF) would pay rent to the owners of land from the time it has taken its possession for Fencing Of Borders.

“BSF will also pay the compensation to the owners after acquiring the said land. The State administration has finalized an arrangement with BSF in this regard”, he said in response to some points raised by various legislators in the meeting.

Omar said that 49 water supply schemes have been completed in Jammu city where as 44 overhead tanks and reservoirs stand constructed besides, laying of 323 kilometres water pipes. He said various works to improve and upgrade drainage system is already underway in the district.

The Chief Minister announced over Rs. 7.50 crore additional funds for the current district plan to help complete various ongoing schemes. These include Rs. 1 crore untied grants, Rs. 2 crore for HT/LT improvement and Rs. 1.33 crore for irrigation and PHE works.

The Chief Minister directed the Planning and Development Department for working out a scheme regarding setting up of ‘Water Pumps Bank’ on the analogy of ‘Power Transformers Bank’ initiated in the State on the directions of the Chief Minister from last year. “The Water Pumps Bank could prove highly useful to the farmers during irrigation season when pumps usually become faulty and tell upon badly on smooth conduct of agricultural activities”, he added.

The Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, A. S. Micky, Vice Chairmen, Pahari, Kissan, Gujjar, SC and OBC Boards M. A. Bukhari, Rachpal Singh, B. A. Naz, Swarn Lata and Kuldeep Raj Verma, legislators Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Yashpal Kundal, Awashni Kumar, Jugal Kshore, Shyamlal Choudhary, G. R. Bhagat, Bharat Bushan, Sukhnandan, Indu Pawar, Ajay Sadhotra, B. R. Kundal, T. S. Wazir and Amar Malhotra in their speeches highlighted various development demands of their constituencies and stressed on launch of new schemes for the expansion of health, education, PHE and communication network in the district. They also raised the points pertaining to the development of border and rural areas of Jammu district.

The legislators appreciated the Chief Minister’s keenness to monitor pace of progress in each district personally and appreciated him for providing new schemes in various sectors.

In a PowerPoint presentation the District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma stated that the district has registered 73.68 percent progress under the current District Plan by the end of January 2011. He said out of the total availability of Rs. 102.37 crores more than Rs. 75.42 crores have been spent during the said period. The District Development Commissioner gave sector wise resume of the achievements registered and targets realized in the district under the current plan.

[SSCaddict]

Land acquired for four-laning of Kashmir highway

Decks have been cleared for the four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only road link between Kashmir Valley and the rest of India, with the state government facilitating the land acquisition for the purpose, officials said on Sunday. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been informed about the land acquisition in the areas along the highway where there are plans of widening the road or construction of bridges or tunnels, a source said.
The task had been pending for the past six years.

"It was the intervention at the highest level that made the revenue authorities work hard and acquire land for four-laning of the highway," a senior official told IANS.

"The decks have been cleared. Now, it's the work of the men and machines to do rest," he added.

The 294-km highway is a nightmare for travellers as it is prone to landslides and frequent blockades during winter and rainy seasons.

Though it's double-laned, it becomes single-laned at many points, obstructing the free flow of traffic, which in turn disrupts supplies to the valley, where almost everything, from foodgrains, poultry to cars and trucks, are supplied from other states.

"Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been personally monitoring the progress in the four-laning of the highway, and has asked the NHAI to expedite the work," the official said.

Abdullah has also asked the NHAI to set a "time frame" for the completion of work, he said.

[World8115]

JKSRTC to procure 450 new buses

Source

Minister for CAPD and Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon has said that government has submitted a project of 450 buses to the centre for approval to meet the need of plying SRTC buses on various routes especially in hilly and remote areas in the state.

This was stated by the Minister in reply to the supplementaries of several members raised on the main question by M S Niaz in Legislative Assembly here today.

The Minister said that government is purchasing 10 more buses for operation in Doda district, adding that the demand of Bhaderwah would also be accordingly catered to.

Akhoon said that at present transport department is plying 27 passenger buses in erstwhile Doda district of which 7 are plying in Kishtwar district. He said the demand of the area for plying SRTC buses on various routes of these twin districts would be fulfilled after receiving the approval of Centre.

Replying to the main question, the Minister informed the House that inadequacy in SRTC buses operation in Thatri, Bhallessa and Bhaderwah blocks is because of limited fleet availability of buses, adding that on the basis of availability of buses two routes from Doda-Bhaderwah and Bhaderwah-Chinta are covered by JKSRTC buses presently.

[World8115]

‘Rs 4400 cr allocated under state sector’

Source

Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather today informed the House that Rs. 436650. 61 lakh have been allocated to various sectors under state sector in J&K during current financial year.

He said while releasing funds, the Planning and Development Department conducts Plan discussion with various Administrative Departments where the requirement, priorities and potentials of various sectors are discussed thread bare.

He said the State sector funds are allocated on the basis of need projected by the concerned departments, requirement of basic infrastructural facilities in different areas and also aspirations of the public.

This was stated by the Minister while replying to a question by Ch Zulfkar Ali in Legislative Assembly here today, an official handout said.

The Minister said the projects which are of inter district nature such as Grid Stations transmission lines, University, Medical Colleges, inter district roads or those projects which require heavy funding such as District Hospitals, major bridges, degree colleges etc are generally taken up under state sector.

The Minister said that State Government is committed to ensure the equitable and balanced development of all the areas of State. He said the Plan funds are allocated among the districts and departments with this objective in mind and based on the requirements on ground.

He said the State Finance Commission, which has dealt with this issue has submitted its report which is under examination.

[World8115]

HDFC Bank opens branch

Source

HDFC Bank today inaugurated a branch at Gangyal here taking its total branch strength in J&K to 11. Amongst the private banks, HDFC Bank currently has the largest network of branches in the state. The new branch is located in the largest industrial belt of the region.

The new branch will offer its customers world-class banking services under one roof ranging from basic services such as Savings Account, Fixed Deposits, Current Account, Mutual Funds, Insurance, Kisan Gold Card, Two-wheeler loan, Auto loan, Commercial vehicles to sophisticated direct access banking channels such as ATM, PhoneBanking, NetBanking and HDFC Bank International Credit and Debit Cards. Zubair Iqbal, Deputy Vice President & State Head (J&K), HDFC Bank, said, “The focus of the bank is to reach out to the large unbanked segment in the region and provide banking solutions and accessibility to funds.”

[World8115]

Rs 386 cr for conservation of Wullar Lake: J-K govt

Source

Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated a Rs 386 crore comprehensive management action plan.

Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated a Rs 386 crore comprehensive management action plan for the conservation and management of Wullar Lake in the Kashmir Valley.

Replying to a question of PDP member Nizam-ud-Din Bhat in the Legislative Assembly today, Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmed said that the comprehensive management action plan has been prepared for the conservation and management of Wullar Lake in Kashmir valley.

The project has been prepared in consultation with Wetland International Asia, New Delhi for an amount of Rs 386.39 crore for a period of five years and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he said.

Rs 120 crore would be provided under the 13th Finance Commission with an allocation of Rs 30 crore from 2011-12, he said.

For the effective coordination, monitoring and implementation of the programme a full-fledged Wullar conservation and management authority is being constituted, he said.

[sixsigma1978]

Originally Posted by SSCaddict

Land acquired for four-laning of Kashmir highway

Does this also apply to the Jawahar Tunnel?

[India101]

Rs61.99 crore allocated for tourism infrastructure in Ladakh

Rs61.99 crore has been allocated for the creation of infrastructure to promote tourism in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir government said today.

Replying to a question of Aga Syed Ahmed Rizvi in the legislative council, minister of state for tourism and urban development Nasir Aslam Wani said that Rs61.99 crore has been allocated for the creation of infrastructure related to promotion of tourism in the Ladakh region of the state.

He further said that out of which Rs29.27 crore has been released for Kargil and Rs32.72 crore for Leh district of the region.

[purty_trash]

cheers!

[sixsigma1978]

Cheer AFTER they translate into anything tangible!!
Frankly - 62 crores ,even forgetting kickbacks and feasibility reports ,is peanuts!!

[SSCaddict]

HC for fresh environmental clearance to GVK's project

The Uttarakhand High Court today directed Alaknanda Hydro Power Company Limited (AHPCL), a GVK group company, to seek fresh environmental clearance for its 330 Mw Srinagar hydel project from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). However, the court refused to stop the construction work.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice P C Pant and Justice B K Bist also directed the MoEF to decide the matter in three months, said the counsel of the petitioner, Ram Lal.

Lal had petitioned before the High Court that AHPCL did not seek necessary environmental clearance from MoEF for enhancing the capacity of the project from 200 Mw to 330 Mw.

However, the court rejected the petitioner’s plea to stop the construction work of the dam, saying the project could not be completed soon.

The project, which is scheduled to be commissioned in December this year, had hit a roadblock during the past two years over the issue of submergence of Dhari Devi temple.

The government had stopped the construction work of the project around the temple last year after a prolonged agitation by a section of the Sangh Parivar, including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

Uma Bharati, that is opposed to the shifting of the temple, which will get submerged in the dam’s reservoir to be built on the Alaknanda river.

Since Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank intends to contest the Assembly election from the Srinagar constituency, the issue had taken political dimensions with the state government setting up inquiry committees to deal with it.

GVK was given the task of completion of the Srinagar hydel project by the previous Congress government in 2006 after the project remained suspended for nearly 20 years.

[SSCaddict]

JK eyes 7056 MW power production in next ten years

Jammu and Kashmir Government is looking forward to generate 7056.50 MW power in the next ten years by developing hydropower projects across the state under various modes, said JK Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan.

According to him, the government is keen to harness the available 20, 000 MW hydro power potential in the state, adding that out of the identified 16, 000 MW capacity as much as 2456 MW power has already been generated. J&K government has attached significant importance to the full exploitation of hydro power potential in order to affect a major turnaround in the state's economy and power scenario, noted the minister. "Development of Hydroelectric projects requires substantial investments. The objective of rapid development of the potential cannot be met with state funding alone as there is always competing demand for State funds", he said. The minister added that the state has therefore to look at alternative investment policies. The J&K Government has already approved an implementation framework for speedy development of hydro projects under state and central sectors, joint ventures with Central Public Sector Units and private sector and under Public Private Partnership mode. The Government has recently signed a Promoters agreement to float a joint venture company to develop Pukhal Dul, Kiru and Kawar Hydro Electric Power Projects with a total capacity of 2150 MWs with JKSPDC, NHPC and PTC India, said the minister. 17 power projects, with an aggregate capacity of 1897. 76 MWs are under execution in the State under State, Central and Private Sectors, while projects with aggregate capacity of 7056.50 MWs are planned for execution in the available modes in the next ten years, he concluded.

[India101]

New Bridge to Connect Punjab, HP & J&K

Basholi/Jammu, May 22 (Scoop News) –Construction work for a permanent bridge over river Ravi to link three North Indian states- Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will kick start tomorrow when the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi lays the foundation stone for the project at Basohli in J&K.

The bridge will also open up new areas for development and tourism in Kathua and Doda diastricts in J&K and along Ranjit Sagar Dam. The 592 metre bridge, to be built by the Border Raods Organisation of the Ministry of Defence at a cost of Rs 145 Crores, will open up an alternative route to National Highway 1A and to the Kashmir Valley via Basholi, Bani, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Chhatroo and Anantnag and boost development of these areas with better connectivity.

Scheduled to be constructed by September 2014, the bridge will open up avenues for commercial mining of materials like Gypsum and Lime stone.

Indicative of the significance of the occasion, a galaxy of dignitaries including the Defence Minister AK Antony, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister for New & Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Chief Minister of J&K Shri Omar Abdullah, the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju will attend the function. The Defence Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar and the Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Ravi Shankar will also be present on the occasion.

From a technical point of view, the Basohli bridge is going to be a technological marvel. It will be a cable-stayed bridge, similar to the Second Hoogly bridge at Kolkotta, Naini Bridge at Allahabad and the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link at Mumbai. The Basohli bridge will have a tower height of about 88 metres above deck level. The decking and the span regions will only be supported by cables. There will be 1.5 metre wide footpaths on both sides. The contract for the construction of the bridge has been awarded to M/S IRCON-SPS Construction Pvt Ltd.

It may be recalled that the Border Roads Organisation, raised in 1960, was primarily tasked to build strategic roads for the Army. It has now diversified to bridging, tunneling and building airfields.