Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Mr. Abdul Haq today while replying on behalf of Minister for R&B to a Calling Attention Notice by Mr Ghulam Nabi Monga informed the House that the Fish Market on Wodden Bridge on river Jehlum at Baramulla got washed away during devastating floods of September 2014. He said reconstruction of the bridge was approved under Prime Ministers package under flood damaged infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 67.67 lakh on the basis of the estimates prepared.The Minister said that after detailed investigation it was found that the sub structure has outlived its life and was not found safe to carry any type of load. The issue was examined afresh and it was decided to construct a permanent Foot Bridge for which DPR at an amount of Rs 4.98 crore has been prepared.
The Minister said that the matter regarding escalation in the cost of the damaged Fish Market Bridge from initially envisages cost of Rs 67.67 lakh to Rs 4.98 crore was then taken up with Planning & Monitoring and Development Department for arrangement of remaining funds as per the fresh estimates. The Minister however said that no funds have been released so far.The Minister said in view of the importance of the bridge it is being considered for being constructed under the recently approved World Bank Jehlum-Tawi Flood recovery (JTFR) project.