J&K Deputy Chief Minister Addresses Assembly Queries on Infrastructure and Waste Management

Jammu, March 6 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister of J&K, Surinder Choudhary, addressed various inquiries regarding the construction of bridges, waste management, and public issues during the assembly's question hour on Thursday.

The Deputy Chief Minister disclosed to the assembly that a detailed DPR has been crafted for the construction of a bridge over Bheeni Nallah at Kaloran, Nangla Dull road in Bani, valued at Rs 583.78 lakh.

He was responding to a question from MLA Rameshwar Singh, stating that the DPR for a 75 m span bridge with a 700 m approach road is currently under the consideration of the sanctioning authorities for the upcoming financial year, pending the availability of funds.

Moreover, the Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that a grievance concerning this matter had been logged on the L-G Mulaqaat web portal.

In the same session, Sakeena Itoo, the Minister for Social Welfare, reported that the Municipal Committee Dooru/Verinag is distributing twin household dustbins to encourage source segregation of waste, alongside the installation of twin bins in commercial areas within the twin towns of Anantnag district.

This information was provided in response to a question from G A Mir in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister noted that eight hoppers are regularly deployed for waste collection from households and businesses, with the waste transported to the Material Recovery Facility Plant at Verinag for further segregation into dry and wet waste.

The dry waste is processed at the MRF center, recycled, and sold, while wet waste is composted in pits to create organic compost.

Additionally, Sakeena Itoo shared that the department has procured eight hoppers, 25 tri-cycles, and one truck equipped with a sucker for Dooru and Verinag. The department also plans to acquire machinery such as a weight bridge, baling machine, and shredder to enhance sanitation and waste management practices.

In response to supplementary queries, the Minister mentioned that three Solid Waste Management Plants of 4 TPD each have been sanctioned for MC Dooru-Verinag. Furthermore, one such plant is operational at Veering, processing dry waste at the MRF facility and wet waste via pit composting.

She asserted the Municipal Committee's commitment to improving waste management through enhanced segregation methods, citizen engagement, infrastructure upgrades, and innovative waste processing solutions.

Under the SBM (U), scientific processing of Municipal Solid Waste in the small and medium towns of J&K has been initiated. She added that the construction of 78 Solid Waste Management Centers (WMCs) and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) along with compost pits has been approved, with work underway at various locations.

She further reported that bio-remediation of legacy waste at sites such as Bhagwati Nagar, Kathua, Samba, and others has been completed, addressing 3.88 lakh MT of legacy waste. Contracts for additional bio-remediation efforts are in progress.

Regarding housing, the Minister announced the launch of PMAY-Urban 2.0 in September 2024 to assist EWS/LIG and MIG income categories with housing needs through financial aid for construction and purchase of homes over the next five years.

She revealed that Rs 907.68 lakh has been allocated to beneficiaries for housing construction since 2018 in Dooru and Verinag, with 505 out of 747 sanctioned houses completed and 161 under construction.

Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, informed the assembly about ongoing protection works under the Flood Management Project Phase-II along the Jehlum river, set for completion by March 2025 at an estimated cost of Rs 84.00 lakh.

He clarified that the Irrigation and Flood Control Department lacks a specific budget for riverbank beautification, focusing instead on anti-erosion initiatives.

In response to a question about the Burzahama Hospital, Minister Sakeena Itoo stated that the hospital will be built at a new location due to previous objections from the Archaeological Survey of India. The department is exploring alternative sites for the project.

Minister Javed Ahmad Rana assured that all areas in Srinagar receive scheduled potable water supply, emphasizing the government's commitment to delivering essential services and promptly addressing water supply issues.

In conclusion, the government is dedicated to ensuring all citizens have access to basic facilities, especially in remote areas, while also enhancing public service accessibility through an online portal for revenue services.