With gradual relaxation in the lock down restrictions announced by the Government during third and fourth phase of lockdown, the Department of Urban Local Bodies has resumed work on 50 schemes with the aim of giving impetus to the development works and providing work opportunities for the local labourers. “During pre-lockdown period, the Department of Urban Local Bodies(ULB) ,Kashmir had taken up development projects in 44 Municipal Committees. However, due to the outbreak of covid-19 disease, the department had to halt work on most of the schemes. The supplies of key material stopped and shortage of labour compounded the problem with lock down being enforced in entire Union Territory,” said Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir.“There are 295 approved schemes to be executed at a cost of Rs. 342.30 crore which, among others, include 120 schemes under ADMT, 27 drainage schemes and 14th Finance Commission approved 111 schemes besides the schemes covering street lighting, development of bus stands, works under Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT and resumption of work on 22 languishing projects”, the officer said in a statement.With easing of restrictions on construction works, the department has started works in Bandipora, Sopore, Budgam, Bijbehera, Khrew, Pampore while in coming days the department would start work on more schemes which have been approved for the current year.
This would also generate work for skilled and unskilled labour and enable them to earn their livelihood”, said Director ULB, Riyaz Ahmad Wani. “After assessing the problems being faced by the labour class working in organized and unorganized sectors in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the department has extended financial support to as many as 6000 persons registered with the department and each worker shall get Rs. 1000 per month for three months for sustenance”, the officer said.“The department is playing its role to restart development works and trying to mobilize men, material and machinery. Besides, ULB department has launched sanitation drives within their jurisdiction in 44 municipal committees across the Kashmir Valley”, said Director ULB.“The workload of the department has also increased on other fronts and the department has to augment men and machinery to carry out sanitation drives and cleanliness and to attend to exigencies arising with the detection of Covid-19 positive cases in various parts of the Valley,” he added.Giving details, Director ULB said the department has so far launched sanitation and fumigation drives in 93 red zones and 147 quarantine centres established in 44 Municipal Committees for which the department of ULB had to procure 332 machines and put in service 5000 persons to undertake this challenging task. Fumigation at public places of ambulances, buildings and ATMs has become a routine job of the field functionaries of the department, the officer said.