JAMMU, FEBRUARY 20: Nearly, 92 restoration works worth Rs. 9.84 crore were taken up post 2025 floods across Marh Constituency in Jammu.
This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, while replying to a question raised by Surinder Kumar in the Legislative Assembly.
The Deputy Chief Minister apprised the House that an amount of Rs. 8,87,000 under SDRF norms was also disbursed among 90 affected families in the Constituency.
He acknowledged the significant losses incurred by Marh Constituency’s inhabitants due to last year’s floods. He commended the district administration’s swift response, undertaking prompt assessment and relief measures as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He said that relief under the SDRF norms was provided to the affected families on priority.
The Deputy Chief Minister said besides SDRF assistance, the affected families were also provided with ration and other essential items during the flood period under Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS).
He informed the House that about 92 works including roads, bridges, WSSs, power and other vital public infrastructure damaged during floods were taken up for restoration under PWD, PMGSY, JPDCL, PHE, JMC, BDO offices Mandal Phillian and Marh in the Constituency.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that most of the works taken up for temporary restoration have been completed and various works are under different stages of completion, while few are set to be completed by July and August, 2026.
Sakeena Itoo advocates collective efforts to combat drug abuse across J&K
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today emphasized the crucial and collective role of legislators, senior citizens, intellectuals, community members and religious leaders in combating the menace of drug abuse across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said this while replying in the House today to a clubbed question of Legislators Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Ali Mohammad Sagar (raised by Legislator Mubarik Gul on his behalf) and Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Mir on the issues relating to drug Abuse.
She added that the department has taken various steps like mandatory CCTV installation and computerized billing of medical shops training counselors at village level as well as CCTV installation in and around schools and colleges. She also said that teachers are being trained in schools to counsel students showing some early signs of drug addiction.
The Minister informed the House that Drug De-addiction services are being strengthened across the Union Territory under the Health and Medical Education Department and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. She added that Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are functional in all the districts of Kashmir Division and nine districts of Jammu Division, with dedicated IPD beds and OPD services available to ensure comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation.
The Health Minister said that in Kashmir Division ATFs are functional in SKIMS, GMC Bemina Srinagar, GMC Anantnag, GMC Baramulla, GMC Handwara, District Hospital Kulgam, District Hospital Shopian, District Hospital Pulwama, District Hospital Budgam, District Hospital Ganderbal and District Hospital Bandipora. In Jammu division, ATFs are functional in GMC Doda, GMC Jammu, GMC Kathua, GMC AH Rajouri, GMC AH Udhampur, District Hospital Kishtwar, District Hospital Poonch, District Hospital Ramban, District Hospital Reasi and DH Samba (functional on OPD Basis), she added.
The Minister said that OPD services are being ensured in all the districts, IPD services in all the GMCs besides the psychiatrists are also available. Efforts are underway to bolster de-addiction counselling and treatment services, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas, by strengthening OPD-based counselling, improving access to essential medicines, and enhancing follow-up and outreach programmes, she added.
“Health and Medical Education Department is regularly organizing awareness campaigns through field functionaries as well as via print media, encouraging the drug abuse victims to seek treatment and counselling to get rid of this evil addiction”, she said.
The Minister said that 32517 patients have been registered in ATFs in J&K, with 16759 in Kashmir division and 15758 in Jammu division. She added that there is no proposal to establish Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in Pulwama district of Kashmir division and Samba district of Jammu division, saying that a Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre at Village Bajwani, Tral district Pulwama is functional and catering to patients from across the district.
The Health Minister said that an addiction treatment facility has been established at District Hospital Samba since February 2024 sponsored by NDDTC (AIIMS New Delhi) under MoSJE. “The centre is staffed with a psychiatrist and other trained staff to provide treatment and rehabilitation services”, she said. She added that the centre is presently working on OPD basis and providing services like OPD by Psychiatric, counseling, Addiction Treatment Facility and de-addiction medicines are also provided free of cost to the patients.
Govt awards ₹2,106 cr for Ring Road land acquisition: Javed Rana
The compensation for land acquired under the Ring Road projects in Jammu and Kashmir is being disbursed as per the prescribed norms, with a sharing ratio of 90:10 between the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and the UT government.
Replying to a question, raised by MLA Devyani Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana stated that the Ring Road in Jammu passes through the districts of Jammu and Samba the project covers six districts namely Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Budgam, Ganderbal and Bandipora in Kashmir Division. He was replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in the House.
Providing details of compensation, the Minister informed that in Jammu Division, out of total released amount of ₹270.11 crore for compensation, ₹244.43 crore have been disbursed. In Kashmir Division, of ₹1514.34 crore released, ₹1,450.94 crore have already been disbursed.
Regarding the pending cases, the House was informed that in Jammu Division, 38 cases in Samba and 112 cases in Jammu district are yet to be disposed of. In Kashmir Division, pending cases included 57 in Srinagar, 7 in Baramulla, 247 in Budgam, 905 in Ganderbal and 32 in Bandipora.
The Minister clarified that compensation in certain cases is pending due to reasons including non-deposit of balance funds by the indenting department, court litigations, title disputes between land owners and custodians besides other land-related issues.
It was further informed that ₹3.73 crore in respect of district Jammu has been uploaded on the Bhoomi Rashi portal. He added that ₹28.20 crore have been deposited before the High Court of J&K due to title disputes involving 57 landowners.
The Minister assured that compensation in dispute-free cases is being regularly disbursed through the Bhoomi Rashi Portal and the government is committed to clear the pending liabilities in a time-bound manner.
Around 3000 CPWs regularized across J&K: Education Minister
Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that the government has taken a historic decision to regularize around 3000 CPWs across Jammu and Kashmir, fulfilling their long pending demand.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Shabir Ahmad Kullay.
She informed that the department has complied with the February 12, 2018 judgment, following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the SLP, and considered the petitioners’ claims as a one-time measure, pending review petition and contempt proceedings in the High Court.
Regarding the pensionary benefits to the petitioners, the Minister said that the matter has been referred to the General Administration Department for placing the same before the competent authority for approval which is awaited.
She also informed that the claim projected by 246 CPWs for grant of notional benefits w.e.f 16.10.2008 was examined by the Department and the Director School Education, Kashmir rejected the same being devoid of merit, unsustainable in law and not covered under the provisions of SRO-308 of 2008.
