KT NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, May 16 : Chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today declared that "Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh's Re-construction Programme has given fillip to developmental activities in Jammu and Kashmir and paned way for creation of important public infrastructure to usher state in an ear of prosperity".
He was presiding over a high level meeting of Ministers and top brass of administration here today.
Implementation of Prime Minister's Reconstruction Programme was reviewed in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that under Prime Minister's reconsutction programme besides constructing of 1000 mini micro power projects, the work on mega projects has also been taken in hand and is in full swing.
The meeting was informed that Baglihar project would be completed next year with a generation capacity of 450 MWs.
The Chief Minister said that he will take up the maeeter with the Prime Minister the transfer of Salal project to State.
He said new impeats has been given for local generation of power and construction of transmission lines including 220 MW HTL from Northern Grid to the Valley which he said is expected to be completed by July this year.
He said power generation of over 20000 MWs has been survayed in the state and steps have been initiated to harness it for the over all benefit and economic good of the state.
He said Jammu and Kashmir State has become the first state in the country to have separate budget for power sector.
He said with the completion of Baglihar power project and 220 transmission line alongwith construction of scores of micro hydro power projects power situation would ease ease in coming years in the state.
He said construction of Sawalakot Hydro Electric Project, would generate cheapest power and help in a big way for giving fillip to the local generation and reducing heavy expenditure and purchase of power.
Chief Minister said that inter district connectivity being sine-quo-non for economic prosperity of the under developed and remote areas, thrust has been given to the construction and upgradation of important inter district and inter provincial roads like Mughal road, Domail-Katra road, Batote-Kishtwar-Simthan-Anantnag road, Srinagar-Uri-Kaman Post road, Khannabal-Pahalgam road, Srinagar-Leh National Highway, Jammu-Srinagar alternate Highway road.
He said 17 kms of Mughal road from Buflias side has been completed and made motarable and concerned agencies ahve been directed to urgently start its construction from Shopian side.
He said upgradation of Srinagar-Uri-Kaman Post road would boost the trade activities across the LoC and became an important road for trade and travel purposes.
He said upgradation of Srinagar-Leh road to the level of National High Way would make the travelling more comfortable on this road.
Chief Minister directed for taking all out efforts for making the valley as Silicon Valley of the country by popularizing and developing Information Technology sector.
He also directed for creating necessary infrastructure for all newly created Degree Colleges, Industrial Training Institutes and ensure importing of quality education and introduction of subjects that have great marketing potential for educated youth and technocrates.
Azad said that National Rural Health Mission launched in the state will help in a big way to provide better health facilities in the rural areas, adding that Rs.
65 crores have been earmarked for this mission for the current financial year.
He said government is keen to provide modern health care facilities to the ruralities in their localities as such new impeats has been given to the development of health sector in the state.
