Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today directed authorities to prepare a comprehensive project report to undertake riverfront landscaping of historic Tawi River.Dr. Singh was addressing officers during a meeting convened to discuss modalities to carry out riverfront landscaping of Tawi River.Vice Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Mr. Mubarak Singh and senior officers of Central Water Commission and Jammu Development Authority were present in the meeting.Highlighting the importance of riverfront landscaping, the Deputy Chief Minister asked the officers to come up with a comprehensive proposal to undertake the same, as it would go a long way in ensuring beautification as well as stabilization of embankments which would thwart any flood threat. “During monsoons flash floods cause severe damage to the embankments as well as to the structures constructed along the banks, therefore by ensuring stability of the same we would be able to nullify flood threat”, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that landscaping would also help develop the river banks into amusement and recreation parks.Dr. Singh also directed the officers to take technical expertise from the Geological Survey of India so that the embankments are structurally stable and landscaping is also done as per the parameters associated with it. He said that the Detailed Project Report should be completed by March so that the necessary work is undertaken on the same.Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister met Union Joint Secretary for Health, Mr. Rakesh Kumar and discussed modalities associated with setting up of AIIMS at Jammu.
He said that the same would go a long way in ensuring that the people of the region get the best healthcare and related facilities and they would not be required to travel distances for such healthcare services.The Deputy Chief Minister while expressing thanks to the Prime Minister for allotting the premier health institution to Jammu said that by doing so he has fulfilled long pending demand of the people. He said he has also taken up the matter of fast pacing the prestigious institution with the Union Health Minister who has assured him of ensuring its time bound completion.It is pertinent to mention that the union team later visited several places around Jammu and suggested Vijaypur and Ghagwal for setting up the prestigious institution.