Mehbooba said the thrust of the existing and new developmental initiatives sketched out for the district includes augmentation of connectivity, administrative infrastructure, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure, power, irrigation and horticulture.
She said in addition to around 30 road and bridge projects costing Rs 190 crore under execution in the district, some new roads are proposed to be taken up to improve connectivity in and around the district and decongest the town.
The Chief Minister said that the new road projects include extension of the present Ring Road to connect with Pulwama-Newa-Srinagar Road as part of Highway-444. “This will help in diverting all the traffic from Shopian and Mughal Road and other areas to Srinagar without passing through the Main Town,” she said and added that upgradation of Pulwama-Srinagar road via Newa, which is of late witnessing huge traffic rush, is also proposed to be taken up soon.
She said widening of existing alternate road from SP Office Pulwama to T-Point on Pulwama-Rajpora road, to divert the traffic to Rajpora, Drubgam, Shadimarg, Kellar via this road from New Bus Stand, has also been proposed. “This will help decongest the traffic passing through Main Town and DPR for Rs 2 crore already stands formulated in this regard,” she said and added that widening of road from Rohmu to Chadoora and from Inder to Pinglena is also proposed.
Regarding decongestion of Pulwama town, Mehbooba said additional Administrative-cum-Residential Complex will be constructed in District Industries Centre (DIC) complex opposite DC Office to house around 25 district offices which are presently scattered throughout the town and mostly housed in rented buildings.
She said a new Engineering Complex would be also constructed at the existing R&B Complex so that all the Engineering Departments including R&B, PHE, Electrical, Mechanical etc can operate from a single location.
Mehbooba said the Tehsil Offices will be shifted from Malikpora to Old Court Complex near DC Office and a Community Hall and Public Park will be constructed at the site of present Tehsil Office for the facility of the locals.
She said a separate Maternity Hospital and doctors’ residential quarters will be constructed in Old Hospital Complex presently housing CMO’s office. “Proposal has been also formulated for upgradation of District Hospital Pulwama and construction of Registration-cum-Reception Hall and Attendant Hall with Canteen will be taken up soon,” she said and added that a multi-storey Official Residences Complex will be constructed for officers on the 5 kanals of land presently under the official residences of ACR and Tehsildar Pulwama.
Mehbooba said out of around 1500 kanals of state land available at Chandgam Karewa, some portion will be utilized for construction of a Kendriya Vidyalya and a residential school for girls while a state-of-the-art sports facility would be developed on the remaining land.
Regarding AIIMS Awantipora, Mehbooba said since the actual commissioning of the Institute is likely to take some time, the Govt will push for setting up of make shift polyclinics for various specialities for which doctors would be brought on rotational basis from various premiere health institutions.
The Chief Minister said that a Juvenile Home will be constructed on the land available near Town Hall opposite SP Office Pulwama. The land is presently being used for dumping of garbage.
Regarding development of Mega Terminal Market for fruit at Aglar, the Chief Minister said that the fruit market will be spread over 260 kanals of land for which funds have been arranged under PMDP. She said additional 50 kanals of land are being acquired for further extension of Fruit Mandi at Prichoo, Pulwama. “Similarly, 15 kanals of land have been acquired for extension of Fruit Mandi at Pachhaar,” she said and added that a Pesticide and Soil Testing Laboratory is also proposed to be established in Pulwama.
Under irrigation sector, the Chief Minister said that a project will be formulated for mega irrigation scheme for a large area of Chandgam-Tahab-Koil Karewa which is a long pending demand of the people. She said the PHE Department has been asked to complete augmentation of Water Supply Schemes in Pulwama, Tral and Awantipora by ending this year.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the issue is not of availability of resources but the capacity to spend the money allocated to for developmental projects. “We shall have to develop adequate capacity at the administrative level to expedite execution of developmental works,” she said and added that peace and stability is important to ensure development at the grassroots level.
Mehbooba said Pulwama has suffered a lot economically and educationally due to disturbances and the time has come to rebuild the area with focussed attention.
District Development Commissioner Pulwama briefed the Chief Minister in detail about the progress of various projects in the district.
Minister of State for Forests, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, Legislators, Mohammad Khalil Bandh & Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Principal Secretary to CM, Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, DC Pulwama, G M Dar, Secretary State Sports Council Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and other senior officers were present during the public hearing.