Dy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today said that the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is a landmark initiative of the Union Government envisaging establishment of infrastructure that could ensure adequate robust sewerage networks and water supply for urban transformation.“Improving infrastructure and service delivery system in cities having one lakh and more population through better governance and financial management system forms the stuff of the scheme”, the Deputy Chief Minister said while addressing one day interactive workshop held here today to sensitize the stakeholders regarding various reforms to be implemented under AMRUT.The workshop was organized by Housing and Urban Development Department in collaboration with Jammu Municipal Corporation and IPE Global Limited as knowledge partners.Pertinently, IPE Global Limited is working as project development and management committee for AMRUT in Jammu and Kashmir.It was informed in the workshop that so far, five cities/towns including Jammu Srinagar, Leh, Kargil and Anantnag have been covered under various sectors of AMRUT with a total allocation of Rs 593.05 crore for next five years.
The workshop sensitized the participants on milestones to be achieved as reforms under e-governance, constitution and professionalization of municipal cadre, municipal tax and improvement in levy and collection of user charges and energy and water audit for 2015-16 and 2016-17 in the state.While speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister stressed upon the participants to actualize the reforms for uplift and up gradation of the city and accept this as a challenge to benefit the people. He said that the execution of new ideas floated and pondered upon in the workshop for human resource development, SCADA system for water supply and e-governance can propel the city towards better living standards.Singh further said that workshop is a step towards sensitizing the stake holders from Urban Local Bodies to implement AMRUT mission with a comprehensive approach involving different departments at grass root level.Highlighting the need to improve the existing infrastructure and plan new infrastructure, he said that the mission will not confined to only these five cities/towns but it will be utilized and propagated in small towns as well in a progressive manner.
Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Urban and Housing Development Department Asiea Naqash, while underscoring the importance of the event, exhorted upon thestakeholders to ensure that no stone is left unturned while executing the plans under AMRUT movement with no compromise on the quality of the work. She added that success of such reformatory measures need a collective and pragmatic approach besides a commitment on part of all concerned involved in implementation of such ambitious schemes. She said that such informative workshops further add to success of such initiatives.Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr. Manmohan Singh, J&K Housing Board Chairperson Vipra Bahal, CEO ERA Vinod Sharma, besides officials of UEED PHE ERA JDA PWD PDD LAWDA SDA Chief Town Planner JMC and other concerned departments were attended the workshop.