JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today informed the House that Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has imposed a moratorium on the establishment and registration of new units of air-polluting industries in Khrew, Pulwama, and Khonmoh in Srinagar of Kashmir division for a period of two years since 2021.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly.
He added that the order, in this regard, was reviewed by the Committee on 20.12.2023, which vide its decision dated 01.01.2024, resolved that the moratorium on the establishment of new units shall remain in force only in respect of Cement Plants, Stone Crushers, Brick Kilns, Mining, and Hot Mix Plants till the annual average AQI falls below 100 or CEPI score falls below 60. All necessary steps shall be taken to regularly monitor the ambient air quality of Khrew and Khonmoh areas, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that presently all the three Plants of JKCL have been closed since 2019 due to poor power supply leading to regular interruptions in the operations causing a huge loss in production of the Plant besides non-availability of sufficient working capital.
He said that lack of proper maintenance was causing regular breakdown of the Plant and machinery, besides several unforeseen factors like the September 2014 flood, the unrest of 2016, and the 2019 Covid lockdown in the valley, which adversely affected the performance of the company. He added that huge losses were other reasons for the complete closure of the plant operations. He further said that the company has been burdened by its own liabilities on account of salaries/bills raised by the contractors and various departments, CP Fund of employees, GST liabilities, etc.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that presently, the JKCL is under the process of disinvestment. He added that in view of the non-viability of the revival of JKCL, the Administrative Council of the Union Territory of J&K, vide Administrative Council Decision No. 113/15/2021 dated 19.10.2021, gave in-principal approval for the complete sale of the JKCL and its assets on an as-is-where-is basis, through strategic disinvestment and exploration of the options for e-auction from the qualified bidders.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that pensionary benefits for the retired employees of JKCL have been worked out and projected in the revised budgetary provisions for the current financial year 2024-25. However, the 6th Pay Commission benefits have been implemented for the employees, he added.
Wage enhancement of Cooks-cum-Helpers to be taken up in the upcoming PAB meeting: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for School Education and Higher Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that the matter of enhancement of wages of Cooks-cum-Helpers working under the PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meals Scheme) would be taken up in the upcoming Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting.
The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Muzaffar Iqbal Khan in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed the House that as per the guidelines and norms of the Union Ministry for Education, with the sharing pattern of 90:10, the Cooks-cum-Helpers are being paid a monthly honorarium of Rs.1000 only for the preparation of single-time meals.
The Minister informed that the demand for the enhancement of the honorarium of the Cooks-Cum-Helpers was projected during the previous meeting of PAB under the PM POSHAN scheme, but the same was not accepted with remarks that cooks-cum-helpers are uniformly paid throughout the country and the same cannot be enhanced in isolation for any state or UT.
The Minister also informed the House that there had been a provision for the engagement of land donors as casual workers under SRO 520, but that has ceased to exist now and as such, there is no such policy by virtue of which employment can be provided to the land donors. She added that the School Education Department is providing land compensation under the UT CAPEX BUDGET to liquidate the claims of land donors in a phased manner, including those of the Thanamandi Constituency.
Mir Saifullah, Mehraj Malik, and Balwant Singh Mankotia raised the supplementaries.
Govt provides Rs 87.98 lakh relief to 3145 hailstorm-affected orchardists in Zainpora: Agriculture Minister
Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, today said that about 3145 orchardists have been provided with relief amounting to Rs. 87.98 lakh, till date, under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) by the District Administration, Shopian.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Showkat Hussain Ganie in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that the hailstorm has affected the apple crop in 24 villages of the Zainapora Constituency during the harvesting season in September 2024.
He maintained that the survey regarding the assessment of loss was conducted by the Chief Horticulture Officer, Shopian, jointly with the Revenue and Agriculture Department. The report was submitted to the District Administration Shopian on October 28, 2024, for relief measures under natural calamity to compensate for the loss to the affected growers. He further said that the relief disbursement process is underway and all the affected farmers shall be covered.
The Minister added that the government shall, through a committee, evaluate the provision of benefits under the Crop Insurance Scheme and Net facility to the apple growers for the protection of their crops against hailstorms and other natural calamities.
Shabir Ahmad Kullay raised a supplementary.
Ensure timely pension disbursement under ISSS, IGNOAPS: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today emphasized timely disbursement of pension among the beneficiaries under different pension schemes, including Integrated Social Security Schemes (ISSS) and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Shamim Firdous in the Legislative Assembly.
She informed that a detailed procedure for disbursement of pension under ISSS has been provided in ISSS Rules 2022, which is similar to the procedure for disbursement of financial assistance under IGNOAPS (CSS). However, the payment under IGNOAPS is being done through the NSAP-PPS portal.
Mubarak Gul, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Tanvir Sadiq, and Javed Ahmad Mirchal raised supplementary questions on the issue.
WSSs worth Rs 61.06 cr undertaken in Marh constituency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today informed the House that 20 Water Supply Schemes (WSSs) have been taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Marh constituency at an estimated cost of Rs. 61.06 crore.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Surinder Kumar in the Legislative Assembly.
He informed that, out of Rs. 61.06 crore, an expenditure of Rs. 19.65 crore has been made so far. The expenditure included Rs. 14.15 crore on the procurement of pipes being used in these schemes, of which pipes costing Rs. 12.79 crore have been issued for utilization, and the rest are in the central stores.
He added that GI and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes are being used in these schemes as per suitability and technical feasibility, in accordance with the CPIIEEO Manual and advisories of the National Jal Jeevan Mission, which explains, “HDPE pipes should be preferably used over GI pipes.”
The Minister added that the UT has been consistently opposing the use of HDPE pipes even in plain areas for which sound technical reasoning is not provided. It is imperative to use such cost-effective pipes that are currently used across many states in the country.
The Minister further informed that work in this regard is in progress in Chak Dina Dhatriyal, Makwal Malkey Chak, Gandu Chak, Nagbani, and Chak Dali Old. He added that four tube wells have been completed while work on the fifth is in progress.
Legislators Arvind Gupta and Chander Prakash Ganga raised supplementary questions on the issue.
Restrictions in place on sale, purchase of land in Khimber and Chatterhama: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Revenue, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that restrictions stand imposed on the sale and purchase of land in Khimber and Chatterhama.
The Minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to a question raised by Salman Sagar in the Legislative Assembly.
She informed that restrictions have been in place since April 24, 2024, on the sale and purchase of land recorded as Shamilat Section 5 land in estates Khimber and Chatterhama. She stated that the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar is conducting an inquiry into the matter, as ordered by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) J&K, vide Order No: 03-FC (Rev) of 2024, dated 24-04-2024, issued under endorsement No: 31-37/FC-AP, dated 24-04-2024.
No proposal to declare Old City Jammu as Heritage City: Sakeena Itoo
The Government today said that presently there is no proposal regarding the declaration of Old City Jammu as a Heritage City.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, while replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to a question raised by Yudhvir Sethi, said that there is no such proposal under consideration in the department at present.
39 Health institutions functional in SMVD Constituency: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that 39 health institutions are functioning in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) constituency, besides Narayana Super Specialty Hospital, which is providing advanced healthcare facilities to locals in the constituency.
The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Baldev Raj Sharma in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister further informed that 1 CHC, 2 PHCs, 5 NTPHCs, and 31 Sub Centres are functional in the SMVD constituency, adding that Bhomag village falls under Block Medical Officer Reasi and there is no sanctioned post of BMO Bhomag. Further, no office building for the office of BMO is being constructed at Bhomag, she said.
The Minister also informed that a Sub Centre at Kothroo and Kroonkote is under construction under district Capex. Besides, CHC Katra is functioning as a 30-bedded SDH with 5 specialties and additional specialized services of Sinologist and Orthopaedics.
She said that as per the IPHS standard, there is no provision for any specialist doctor for PHCs, adding that PHC Tote is operational and adequately staffed with both Medical and Paramedical staff.
While giving details regarding filling up of vacancies in the health department, the Minister said the department appointed 365 Medical Officers and posted them in far-flung/peripheral health institutes across J&K for strengthening healthcare facilities at the grassroots level in November 2024.
She informed that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist in respect of 91 selectee Medical Officers, whose services will also be utilized in the underserved areas across J&K.
The Minister added that 181 posts of Medical Officers are about to be received from the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, which will significantly reduce staff shortages in various health institutions.
She further informed that 292 vacancies in the non-gazetted/paramedical category from the Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health (MCH), and Immunization, besides 290 vacancies in the Directorate of Health Services Jammu, have also been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (J&K SSB) for recruitment, which will significantly strengthen and improve the healthcare system.
Regarding the upgradation of CHC Katra to SDH or ADH, the Minister said that the upgradation of any health institute will be taken under IPHC norms if needed.
Regarding staff positions in healthcare institutions in the SMVD constituency, the Minister said that against 184 (Medical and Paramedical) sanctioned posts, 107 have been filled up, while an additional NHM staff of 105 (Medical and Paramedical) has been posted in the SMVD constituency.
16 MOs posted in far-flung areas, peripheries of Anantnag; 6 MOs, 2 Dental Surgeons in SDH Shangus: Health Minister
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that six Medical Officers and two Dental Surgeons, among other dedicated staff, are catering seamless healthcare services to the general public at Sub District Hospital (SDH), Shangus in Anantnag.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Reyaz Ahmad Khan in the Legislative Assembly.
She said that in November 2024, 365 selectees were appointed as Medical Officers in the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services, out of which 16 were posted in the far-flung/peripheral health institutes of Anantnag district, strengthening the healthcare facilities at the grassroots level.
The Minister informed that there are 4 sanctioned posts of Medical Officers at SDH Shangus, and all four posts are in position. Besides, 2 Medical Officers under the National Health Mission (NHM) are also serving at SDH Shangus.
She added that the sanctioned posts of 2 Dental Surgeons for SDH Shangus are also in place.
The Minister added that specialist posts were created for SDH Shangus, however, later, vide Government Order No. 875, dated 06.09.2002, these posts were kept in abeyance.
She informed that the upgradation of health institutions mainly depends upon multiple parameters, including population, infrastructure, distance from nearby health institutions, workload, and fulfillment of conditionality of IPHS norms-2022 and circular instructions of the Government issued from time to time.
