Chief Secretary, B B Vyas Saturday chaired a video conference with Deputy Commissioners across the state to review the progress of land acquisition proceedings and to expedite resolution of bottlenecks in major PMDP projects under implementation in the state in the road, power, health, education and tourism sectors. Commissioner Secretary, PW (R&B) Department, Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Secretary (Technical), Forest Department, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Director, PD&MD, Regional Officer, NHAI, J&K, Project Director NHAI, Jammu and other senior officers attended the meeting.Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and DCs of Kashmir & Jammu divisions participated via video conferencing.In the road sector, Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of land acquisition in respect of ring road projects around Srinagar and Jammu cities, Zojilla Tunnel, Kargil-Zanskar road, Nimu-Padam-Darch, Srinagar-Shopian-Qazigund, Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch, Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Goha roads and the 4 Lanning of National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar.
The meeting was informed that the Srinagar city ring road project involves an area of 278 hactares spread over six districts vizBudgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Srinagar, while as Jammu city ring road project involves an area of 342 hactares. Chief Secretary directed the concerned DCs to complete all the land acquisition proceedings in a mission mode, so that land free from all encumbrances is handed over to the executing agency for commencement of work on the prestigious projects.As regards other projects under PMDP in the road sector, which are under implementation including the Zojilla Tunnel and National Highways, it was informed that barring some minor land issues, the projects are progressing smoothly. Chief Secretary asked the concerned DCs to resolve these issues expeditiously. He further asked the NHAI to ensure that compensation amount on account of land acquisition across all projects is released to the DCs immediately for timely disbursement to the land owners. In the power sector, the progress of land acquisition in 220 KV Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Transmission Line was reviewed. While no land acquisition issues were reported to be pending in districts of Kargil and Leh, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal was asked to address the issues in nine critical locations in district Ganderbal.
Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of land acquisition in the Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Leh and Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop Tourist circuits. The concerned DCs were asked to submit the list of bottlenecks in land acquisition, if any, to the respective Divisional Commissioners, so that these can be resolved in a time bound manner. Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of land acquisition in the prestigious AIIMS projects at Samba and Awantipora and other education sector projects including IIMs at Jammu and proposed campus at Budgam. Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama was asked to hand over the land to the executing agency for commencement of work on the AIIMS project at Awantipora besides completing disbursements to the land owners by 31st December, 2017.Chief Secretary asked Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to facilitate expeditious land acquisition in all PMDP projects by regularly reviewing the progress with the concerned DCs and executing agencies.