SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly that the proposed 800 TPD Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Project at Achan, Srinagar, estimated at ₹361 crore, is currently at the tendering stage.
Replying to a question by MLA Mubarik Gul during the Question Hour of the ongoing Autumn Session, the Chief Minister, who is also Minister Incharge Housing & Urban Development, said the project has an estimated waste-processing capacity of 800 tonnes per day and a timeline of 25 years, including a construction period of 24 months.
The proposed integrated project comprises composting facilities, a Bio-CBG plant, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility, scientific sanitary landfill, transfer stations, leachate management infrastructure and other ancillary environmental infrastructure.
The Chief Minister informed the House that no agency or contractor has so far been allotted the project, as the project is presently under the tendering process.
Meanwhile, a range of measures are being implemented by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for scientific management of municipal waste, environmental protection and remediation of legacy waste at Achan until the new integrated project is commissioned.
The SMC is presently managing around 500–550 TPD of municipal solid waste generated within Srinagar municipal limits through an integrated system of collection, transportation, processing and disposal. 100 per cent door-to-door collection has been achieved across all wards, while around 60 per cent source segregation is currently being achieved through sustained IEC campaigns, public participation and strengthened collection mechanisms.
The municipal corporation has also deployed more than 380 waste collection and transportation vehicles and engaged over 2,700 sanitation workers for collection, transportation and sanitation services.
At Achan, a 100 TPD Material Recovery Facility has been established for segregation and recovery of recyclable materials including plastics, paper, cardboard and metals. The facility is operated and maintained through a specialized agency for scientific processing, recovery and channelization of recyclable materials to authorized recyclers and end users.
The SMC has also established a 85 TPD wet waste processing plant at Achan for scientific processing of segregated wet and biodegradable municipal solid waste, contributing to reduction in pollution and foul odour and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
On the legacy waste accumulated at the Achan dumpsite, the Chief Minister informed the House that biomining and bioremediation of approximately 11 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste has been taken up. The work has been awarded to a specialized agency, with windrow formation and associated civil works presently underway. Scientific segregation, recovery of recyclable material and stabilization of waste fractions are being undertaken as part of the remediation process.
A 60 KLD leachate treatment plant is also under construction for scientific management and disposal of leachate at the site.
In another initiative, a 125 TPD Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Facility is being established at Achan under SBM-U 2.0. The work has been awarded, civil works have been completed, and mechanical works and equipment installation are currently in progress.
The facility, once commissioned, will enable scientific processing of C&D waste, recovery and reuse of construction materials, reduction in illegal dumping and conservation of natural resources through recycling and reuse.
The measures being implemented at Achan are aimed at strengthening scientific waste management, improving resource recovery, addressing legacy waste and reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal in Srinagar pending implementation of the new integrated solid waste management project.
10 km of Dal Lake internal channels dredged in three years; comprehensive cleaning to continue on priority: CM
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that 10 kilometres of internal channels and waterways of Dal Lake and adjoining lake interiors have been cleaned/dredged during the last three years, while further dredging of priority channels is being undertaken through departmentally owned machinery.
Replying to a question by MLA Tanvir Sadiq during the Question Hour of the ongoing Autumn Session, the Chief Minister, who is also Minister Incharge Housing & Urban Development, said that clearing of internal channels and waterways of Dal Lake and adjoining lake interiors is being carried out regularly through manual deweeding and collection of solid waste.
During the current financial year, mechanical dredging has also been carried out in several important channels using departmentally owned water masters. These include the channel from Dol Damb to Meena Bazar through Angraz Hut, two main channels in Khushalsar from Saidipora Bridge to Firdousabad Colony and Sazgiripora, while dredging and deepening of the main Gilsar has also been almost completed.
On the issue of sewage inflows into Dal and Nigeen lakes, the Chief Minister said sewerage from the periphery and adjoining areas of the Dal-Nigeen lakes, as well as houseboats in the two lakes, is being catered to through five Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
These include the 16.10 MLD Brari-Numbal STP, catering to the southern periphery from Dalgate to Nehru Park and the western side of Dalgate; the 5.4 MLD Nallah Amir Khan STP, serving Lal-Bazar, Bota Kadal and adjoining areas; the 7.5 MLD Hazratbal STP, catering to Ashai Bagh, NIT, Saida Kadal, Saderbal-Kanitar and the University area; the 3.2 MLD Habak STP, serving Habak, Tailbal (Shanpora) and adjoining areas; and the 4.5 MLD Laam STP, catering to areas from Makai Park to Ishber and adjoining localities.
The Government is also augmenting the sewage treatment infrastructure around Dal Lake. A 30 MLD STP at Gupt Ganga is coming up and is scheduled to be completed within two years. The facility will cater to the northern side of Dal Lake.
With regard to Khushalsar and Gilsar, the Chief Minister said the lakes were taken up by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) in 2025, while the assignment for construction of the sewerage network around these lakes has been given to the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED).
On the condition of interior channels including Jogi Lanker-Rainawari, Chowdary Bagh, Naidyaar, Sabzi Market and Lamba Mohalla, the Chief Minister said these channels are continuously cleared through manual deweeding and collection of solid waste. The channels were also dredged during the 2023-24 financial year.
He further informed the House that cleaning of such channels is being undertaken continuously, while dredging will be carried out in the near future through departmentally owned machinery on a priority basis.
The ongoing measures are aimed at maintaining the hydraulic capacity of the lake channels, improving water flow, managing solid waste and strengthening sewage treatment and environmental management around the interconnected urban water bodies of Srinagar.
Government committed to strengthen health infrastructure: Sakeena Itoo
Health Sub-Centre at Bhakoga under execution
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 28: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government is taking a phased and need-based approach to strengthen health infrastructure and improve healthcare delivery in Bani Constituency.
The Minister was Replying to a question raised by MLA Dr.Rameshwar Singh.
The Minister informed the House that 50 health institutions are presently functional in Bani Constituency, of which 19 are operating from private/rented accommodation, while the remaining institutions are functioning from their own buildings.
She further stated that construction work on the Sub-Centre at Bhakoga is currently under execution under NABARD funding.
Sakeena Itoo said that the Government is committed to providing own buildings to the remaining health institutions in a phased manner, subject to the availability of suitable land and resources. She emphasized that infrastructure development is being prioritized on the basis of need and availability of resources.
Minister informed that the Health and Medical Education Department has received the selection list of 416 Medical Officers from the J&K Public Service Commission, out of which appointment orders for 335 Medical Officers have already been issued. These Medical Officers will be considered for posting in areas and institutions according to requirements to further strengthen healthcare services.
Regarding vacancies among non-gazetted staff, the Minister said that the vacancies have already been referred to the concerned recruiting agencies for selection of suitable candidates on a priority basis. She added that, upon receipt of the selection/recruitment lists, paramedical staff would be posted in the concerned institutions and areas as per requirements.
Responding to the question regarding the deployment or relocation of healthcare workers during the last two years, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that four healthcare workers from Bani Constituency have been attached, deployed or relocated during the period.
PMAY-G beneficiary inclusion process being undertaken as per GoI guidelines: Javid Dar
Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government is taking all necessary measures to ensure that eligible and deserving rural households are duly considered under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) in accordance with the prescribed guidelines of the Government of India.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Mian Mehar Ali, the Minister stated that PMAY-G aims to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to eligible rural households, particularly those living in kuccha and dilapidated houses.
The Minister clarified that no eligible household or individual has been deliberately or officially rejected or deleted from the PMAY-G Awaas+ 2024 survey at this stage. He said that certain Blocks have reported instances where deserving households are not appearing in the Draft Permanent Wait List (PWL), apparently due to automated scrutiny, validation and eligibility checks carried out through the prescribed system.
He emphasized that since the final PWL has not yet been generated, non-inclusion of a household in the Draft PWL cannot, at this stage, be construed as final rejection or deletion from the PMAY-G beneficiary selection process.
Javid Dar further informed the House that complaints regarding exclusion of eligible households on account of technical or system-generated flags/errors in the Awaas mobile application have been received at various levels.
He said that cases flagged or reverted by the automated system are being subjected to verification and re-verification by the concerned field functionaries as per the prescribed procedure. Therefore, no such case can be treated as finally rejected or deleted without due verification and approval by the competent authority, wherever required.
The Minister, however, informed the House that 4,250 system-flagged cases have been recommended for deletion after verification at the Block as well as District levels during the deletion module, in accordance with the guidelines conveyed by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India.
Regarding the mechanism for inclusion of left-out or deleted beneficiaries, Javid Dar said that no prescribed provision or procedure is presently available for direct incorporation or re-inclusion of such beneficiaries in the PMAY-G beneficiary list.
He added that, with a view to identifying genuine and deserving households that may have been left out during the survey or re-verification process, Gram Sabhas have been conducted in the concerned Panchayats for identification and verification of such cases. Based on these proceedings, the Draft Permanent Wait List is being prepared, he added.
The Minister assured that all cases identified or recommended by the Gram Sabhas shall be examined and processed further in accordance with the applicable guidelines and instructions of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, and the procedure prescribed by the competent authority, as and when such provision is made available.
He reiterated that the Government remains committed to ensuring transparency, due verification and adherence to prescribed guidelines in the selection of beneficiaries under PMAY-G, so that genuine and deserving rural households are duly considered under the scheme.
31 healthcare institutions are presently functioning in Bandipora Constituency: Sakeena Itoo
3 Health infrastructure projects are presently under execution in Bandipora
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government is taking sustained measures to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, manpower and service delivery in Bandipora Constituency, with particular focus on peripheral, underserved, remote and difficult areas.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat, the Minister informed the House that 31 healthcare institutions are presently functioning in Bandipora Constituency, including the District Hospital, ANMT School, PHCs, NTPHCs and Health & Wellness Centres.
Sakeena Itoo said that the Government is continuously assessing the requirements of health institutions and taking necessary measures in accordance with sanctioned strength, service requirements and availability of resources. She said special attention is being accorded to strengthening healthcare facilities in peripheral and difficult areas.
On manpower augmentation, the Minister informed that the J&K Public Service Commission had recommended 416 Medical Officers, out of which 335 have so far been appointed. She said these Medical Officers would be posted appropriately, keeping in view the healthcare requirements of peripheral, underserved, remote and difficult areas, with a view to further strengthening healthcare delivery.
Sakeena Itoo further informed that 466 Non-Gazetted posts borne on the establishment of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, have also been referred to the recruiting agency for selection of suitable and eligible candidates.
On infrastructure, the Minister said that the Government is undertaking augmentation and upgradation of health facilities in a phased manner. Three infrastructure projects are presently under execution in Bandipora Constituency, which, upon completion, will further augment healthcare facilities for the local population.
Responding to the issue of incomplete, abandoned or unused health infrastructure, Sakeena Itoo clarified that, as per available records, no health institution in the constituency has been abandoned. She informed that some projects are presently under execution.
The Minister stated that NTPHC Quil Muqam, Bandipora, is fully functional, while NTPHC Wular Lake, Bandipora, is likely to be completed by the end of the current financial year. She also informed that the District Hospital Bandipora is fully functional.
