Chief Secy for judicious use of extended timeline to complete health projects

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday held a meeting to discuss the progress of projects taken up under the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP).

Dulloo took this occasion to impress upon the concerned officials to make best of this extension window to complete the stalled projects, especially the 120-bedded Lal Ded Hospital Block, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), vital bridges and others projects which are yet to be completed.

He observed that this extension period is quite vital and should be utilised judiciously to complete all these projects well on time. He maintained that pre-emptive measures should be taken by the concerned departments to take up works forthwith for their early completion without any fail.

Dulloo emphasised upon the executing agency to handover the new Bone & Joint Hospital at Srinagar to the concerned hospital administration at an earliest so that they begin functioning there.

The Chief Secretary also took note of the physical and financial progress of the works and enquired about the possible dates of completion for each of them. He stressed on swift delivery of equipment to be procured for Fire & Emergency Department as well as 50 Advanced Life Support bearing ambulances.

He called for finalising the flood mitigation reports framed after carrying out studies of both Jhelum and Tawi River basins. He maintained that these reports had a significance towards river management and taking of flood mitigation measures.

He also took appraisal of the status of completion of de-watering stations and their integration with SCADA for central monitoring. He directed for initiating the hiring of consultancy services for the SPREAD programme of the Tourism Department. He made out that this service should be in place with the Department within the next two months.

Dulloo further advised for complying with different audit observation. He asked for clearing these in consultation with the AG’s office here.

In his presentation the Secretary, PD&MD gave detailed overview of the projects that were part of JTFRP. He gave out that out of 213 projects, 194 sub-projects had been completed with an expenditure of Rs 1479 crore till now.

It was further added that World Bank had given an in-principle nod for extending this project beyond the already fixed deadline of December 31 this year. It was revealed that currently 14 projects are going on and five more, including four bridges, and new block for LD Hospital are going to be allotted to be completed in the extended period.

The timeline for completing these projects was provided with most of the ongoing ones to be completed by March 2025. It is noteworthy to mention here that these projects envisaged raising different critical infrastructure projects, generating livelihoods and capacity building of the people here in the UT besides protection works for safeguarding J&K from recurring floods.