Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary Saturday chaired a meeting of the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) Srinagar to discuss the 2019-20 annual plan of developmental schemes and activities to be taken up in the district under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).The meeting discussed a range of areas where developmental activities should be taken up to address the shortfalls therein and enhance the living standards of people living in mining-affected areas.The areas where approval for taking up developmental activities was given range from drinking water to sanitation and waste management to education to infrastructure to skill development.Some of these include strengthening of drinking water network which also includes setting up of water ATMs at Sangri and Sekinar village of Khonmoh, construction of drainage and a sports-field at Soiteng, establishment of a fossils park in Khonmoh area of Panthachowk, provision of requisite facilities at the School for the Specially-abled at Solina, setting up of five digital libraries at different places and offering skill development in different fields to people living in Khonmoh and Zewan areas.The meeting was informed that concerned line departments have been asked to submit DPRs in these proposed areas and work therein will be started soon afterwards.
District Mineral Officer Srinagar (Geology & Mining) Sartaj Ahmad who is the Member Secretary DMFT Srinagar while briefing the meeting said the Trust has collected funds to the tune of over 4.5 crore rupees which he said is the highest in Kashmir division as on date.Dr Shahid while speaking on the occasion said all mining-affected areas of the district will be covered under this scheme. He instructed the concerned departments to ensure their DPRs are carefully considered and submit them as soon as possible.Members of the Trust including Assistant Commissioner Development, Chief Medical Officer, Superintending Engineer PWD, District Forest Officer, District Panchayat Officer, Assistant Labour Commissioner, District Social Welfare Officer and Chief Agriculture Officer all attended the meeting.ADC Srinagar Kuldeep Krishan Sidha and JD Planning M Yaseen Lone were also present.The District Mineral Foundation Trusts have been established under the PMKKKY programme to implement developmental programmes for mining affected areas using the funds accruing to DMFTs.