Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today said that 172 Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) have been constructed in Banihal Municipal Committee and Rs 10 lakh has also been released so far for the purpose to make the area Open Defecation Free. Replying to a Calling Attention Notice moved by legislator Vikar Rasool Wani in the Legislative Assembly today, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that one more public toilet at a cost of Rs 13.59 lakh has also been sanctioned for Municipal Committee Banihal in order to implement the decision taken by Chief Minister during a Public Darbar held at Ramban and work is being taken up in this regard.Regarding the drainage facilty in Banihal Municipal Committee, Dr Singh said that under the town drainage scheme, Banihal has been taken up for execution during the year 2014-15 under State Capex Budget at an estimated cost of Rs 8.75 crore with a target to construct drainage of length 3010 RMTs.
He said a cumulative expenditure of Rs 15.00 lakh has been incurred up to March 2017 with a physical achievement of 32 RMTs drain length up to March 2017.During current financial year, an amount of Rs 5.00 lakh has been released for the project with physical target of 19 RMTs which has been utilized and achieved in full, he added.Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that during current financial year, an additional amount of Rs 15.00 lakh has been released in Drainage Sector for meeting the emergent nature of works under the scheme "Emergent Public Demand' on the recommendations of the local legislator.Regarding construction and improvement of lanes and drains in the town, Minister said 18 works under Integrated Development of Medium Towns (IDMT) of Urban Development Sector at an estimated cost of Rs 21.90 lakh have been completed in past three years under State Capex Budget.Besides this, in addition an amount of Rs 10.00 lakh has been provided during 2016-17 under the scheme "Emergent Public Demand" (EPD) for execution of 07 emergent nature of works and the works were executed after identification by public representatives, he said.He further informed the house 25 works were approved in past three years at an estimated cost of Rs 31.90 crore out of which 27.83 crore have been utilized so far.