Jammu Feb 19 :- Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today informed the House that the blacktopping of the road project from Sua number 1 to Pargwal in Akhnoor shall be taken up by the Border Roads Organization (BRO).

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister while replying to a question raised by Legislator Mohan Lal in the Legislative Assembly.

He said that the road from Sua number 1 to Pargwal is proposed to be handed over to BRO for upgradation and blacktopping. Besides, the formal transfer from PW(R&B) Department to BRO is under process.

Govt ensures ex-gratia assistance for human casualties in wildlife conflict: Forest Minister

Adequate compensation or ex-gratia relief is provided in cases of human injury or loss of life under the prevailing policy framework on human–wildlife conflict in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

This was stated by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, while replying to a question raised by Legislator Sajad Shaheen.

Legislators, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi raised supplementary questions on the subject. They urged the government to provide adequate relief measures and ensure inclusion of the agriculture sector and livestock under the relevant schemes to safeguard farmers’ interests.

Responding to their concerns, the Minister said that currently there is no approved policy or budgetary provision specifically earmarked for compensation of livestock losses due to wildlife attacks in the Union Territory. However, he said that the government is in correspondence with the Animal Husbandry Department to provide compensatory support to the farmers in case of loss of animals.

He said that the Forest Department is in talks with the Agriculture Department and other concerned authorities regarding the inclusion of additional crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in case of damage by the wild animals.

Budgam Ring road drainage system functioning well: Deputy Chief Minister

Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today said that the drainage system was functioning satisfactorily to facilitate proper disposal of surface and sub-surface water near Ring Road in Budgam.

 The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Ali Mohammad Dar in the Legislative Assembly.

He said that that a detailed technical assessment for drainage and cross-drainage structures was carried out at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage, pursuant to which adequate provisions were incorporated in the design.

He said that as many as 148 Box Culverts, 107 Hume Pipe Culverts (HPCs) and 24 Minor Nallah Bridges (MNBs) were incorporated to facilitate proper disposal of the water.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that presently there is no persistent issue of water-logging at the box culverts on the newly constructed Ring Road including Khanda, Kuzwaria, Bugam, Wathora and other locations.

However, he said that temporary accumulation noticed during the construction phase of the Greenfield project was addressed after completion of the structures and the drainage system is functioning satisfactorily.

He further said though there are no reports of water logging issues, however, if required the same shall be addressed through measures including additional constructions.

4142 Kanal land transferred for Industrial Estates in Anantnag: Deputy CM

As many as, 13 land patches comprising 4142. 43 kanal of land have been transferred to the Industries and Commerce department for establishment of Industrial Estates in Anantnag district.

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary while replying to a question raised by Legislator Abdul Majeed Bhat in the Legislative Assembly.

He said that the land patches are located at various locations like Pahalgam, Bijbehara, Dooru, Shangus, Mattan and other spots in Anantnag district.

However, the Deputy Chief Minister said as of now no Industrial Estate exists in Anantnag West Constituency and no such proposal is under consideration in the department.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government is committed to bolster Industrial sector to accommodate unemployed youth and address unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.