Chairman Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali today reviewed the progress on developmental works under Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Engineering Sector in the Kargil district.Executive Engineers of R&B, PMGSY, I&FC, PHE, Kargil Development Authority (KDA), Suru Valley Division, Project Director Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA) besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.During the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held on the implementation of various works which have already been sanctioned, projects submitted for sanctioning as well as others in the pipeline.The Chairman said that the present regime is committed in its endeavor to augment connectivity in rural and far-off areas of the State including Kargil and special thrust is being laid in this regard. He exhorted upon the concerned officers to ensure timely completion of the ongoing projects besides pursuing the progress on the projects under pipeline in mission mode so that the district ranks among the best districts in the country in terms of road connectivity in the coming years.
It was given out that work on 7 major projects involving the construction of motorable and span bridges, improvement and up gradation of roads and other related works under CRF and NABARD is in full swing at a cost of Rs 67.20 crore and Rs 41 crore respectively. The concerned officers further informed the meeting that apart from the projects in operation, projects worth Rs 321 crore for construction, macadamization, improvement, blacktopping and up gradation of roads under CRF and projects worth Rs 185.50 crore under NABARD stand submitted to the government and awaiting sanction.While reviewing the progress registered over projects under PMGSY, the Chairman was informed that work on 15 schemes is underway involving a cost of Rs 88 crore. It was further revealed that projects for the up gradation of 9 roads have been submitted by the PMGSY division under PMGSY Phase-XI (Batch-II) at a cost of Rs 139.44 crore targeted at the up gradation of 110 kms road stretch in various rural areas of the district including Zanskar.
The concerned officers further said that under Batch-III of the PMGSY Phase-II, as many as 13 road stretches measuring 90 kms is targeted to be upgraded which would involve a cost of Rs 86.61 crore.The engineers of the I&FC informed that 4 major projects under Flood Management Programme, 5 under PMKSY and 5 under NABARD have been submitted at a cost of Rs. 156.21 crore, Rs 27.23 crore, and Rs 24.28 crore respectively.It was also revealed that projects worth Rs. 8.16 crore stand submitted for construction of various girder type bridges under Critical Infrastructure.Meanwhile, the Chairman directed the concerned officers to prepare DPRs for the construction of a two-lane road from Iqbal Hydel Project Hunaki to Iqbal Bridge along Suru River so as to use this route as an alternate way for vehicular traffic in case of traffic congestion on the regular routes in Kargil town.He also gave on spot directions to the engineers to expedite the preparation of DPRs with regard to the construction of works projected by the public during his recent tours to different parts of the district. The Chairman said that he is personally monitoring the headway with regard to the various phases of the projects submitted by the executing agencies. He assured the concerned officers that all out support would be extended to ensure that maximum numbers of projects under pipeline are sanctioned so as to build up a satisfactory road network system in the district.
Haji Anayat while highlighting the importance of developing the Imambaras, shrines, Gompas and other ancient religious relics in the area directed the Executive Engineer KDA to conduct extensive survey across the district in consultation with people of know-how so as to ensure the development of Buddhist and Sofi Circuit in the area under PMDP.He also directed the concerned to include the up gradation of the Imambaras at Suru and Tikat, shrine of Islamic missionary Syed Mir Hashim at Karpo Khar and the historical mosque nearby, shrine of Sheikh Hamza at Faroona, improvement and renovation of historical Khanqah at Goma Kargil, shrine at Khaos Panikhar and mosque at Passar Khar, development of Namlding Shagaran as a tourist spot, improvement besides renovation and restoration of historical village at Handurman Broq.The Chairman also directed the concerned to include the improvement and renovation of Gompas at Bodh Kharboo, Hinaskot, Phokar, Rgyal Wakha, Buddhist Study Center Mulbekh, Ating, Muney, mosque and Gonpa at Ufti besides the construction of glass room type library cum reading room at Bardan Gompa under the development of Buddhist and Sufi Circuit programme.
Regarding the progress on the projects under KREDA, the Chairman was informed that DPR preparation of 12 small hydro projects of 23.5 MW capacity worth Rs 230 crore are under process, in addition, the collection of discharge data during lean period (November to February) is also under process. It was given out that the tendering process would commence in April-May next year and work is expected to be kick-started on these projects by August- September 2018.He was also apprised of the status of various solar energy, watermill and greenhouse projects.Meanwhile, considering the shortage and growing demand of vegetables in the district during the winter season, Haji Anayat directed the Project Director KREDA to explore possibilities for the establishment of solar greenhouses in major chunks of land measuring 8 to 10 canals at Sankoo, Drass, Chiktan, Kargil main and other areas.He gave on spot directions to the concerned to prepare proposals and submit them to the concerned. He said that this would, on the one hand, cater to the growing demand for vegetables during the winter season and would also pave way for employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the area.