Reviews developmental issues of Trehgam Constituency

SRINAGAR, JUNE 2: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana Tuesday chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review developmental issues and ongoing works pertaining to the Assembly Constituency Trehgam represented by MLA Mir Saifullah.

The meeting was convened to assess the progress of various infrastructure and public welfare projects in Trehgam, Kupwara and to discuss measures for expediting developmental initiatives in the constituency. Detailed deliberations were held on issues related to water supply, road connectivity, public infrastructure and other sectoral requirements raised by the concerned legislator.

During the meeting, the Minister took a comprehensive review of ongoing and proposed works being executed by different departments. He stressed the need for close inter-departmental coordination to ensure timely completion of projects and prompt resolution of issues affecting the public.

Javed Rana underscored the government’s commitment towards balanced and inclusive development, stating that the aspirations and genuine concerns of the people must be addressed in a time-bound manner. He directed the officers to identify bottlenecks hindering the progress of developmental works and take immediate corrective measures for their resolution.

The Minister emphasized that public welfare remains the top priority of the government and called for greater responsiveness, accountability and efficiency in service delivery. He instructed the concerned departments to maintain regular monitoring of projects and ensure that developmental benefits reach the people at the grassroots level without delay.

MLA Mir Saifullah highlighted several issues and developmental requirements of his constituency and sought early intervention of the concerned departments for their redressal.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the concerned departments.

All J&K Lecturers Association calls on Education Minister

SRINAGAR, JUNE 02: A delegation of All J&K Lecturers’ Association called on Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo at Civil Secretariat here Tuesday and submitted a detailed representation highlighting several long-pending issues affecting the Lecturer fraternity across Jammu and Kashmir.

During the interaction, the delegation apprised the Minister about prolonged stagnation faced by lecturers due to the non-implementation of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme, delay in finalization of Gazetted Recruitment Rules, regular Annual Transfer Drive as well as large number of vacancies in the School Education Department adversely affecting academic functioning in Higher Secondary Schools.

The delegation urged the Minister to expedite the implementation of ACP, which has remained pending from a long time, as well as redressal of other genuine issues.

Interacting with the delegation, the Minister gave them a patient hearing and acknowledged the genuineness, legitimacy and importance of the issues projected by the Association. She assured the delegation that the Government is committed to addressing the concerns of the teaching community.

The Minister also assured them that the department is working on a comprehensive and transparent Transfer Policy, which is likely to be finalized shortly.

Special Secretary SED, Ghulam Rasool Mir was also present during the interaction.

Reviews progress under Catch the Rain Program

SRINAGAR, JUNE 02: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo Tuesday chaired a meeting here at the Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex to review the progress of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan 2.0 under Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain Campaign in the District.

At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for effective inter-departmental coordination to achieve the objectives of the campaign. He directed stakeholder Departments to ensure timely completion of ongoing works and stressed the importance of creating sustainable rainwater harvesting systems and ground water recharging systems across the district to augment availability of water.

The DC directed the Jal Shakti Department to continue the geo-tagging of water sources and recharge structures, while extending technical support to Panchayats in identifying and implementing suitable water conservation interventions. He also emphasized the need to intensify IEC activities across the District to promote awareness on water conservation, sustainable water management and community participation in safeguarding water resources.

Emphasizing the importance of collective action, the DC stated that water conservation is a shared responsibility and called upon all Departments to adopt a coordinated and proactive approach for the successful implementation of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan 2.0 throughout the District.

The DC directed the Education Department to promote rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in educational institutions and conduct awareness programmes among students. He further asked the Education Department to identify “Jal Doots” and “Student Water Champions” in Schools who can serve as ambassadors for water conservation and help promote sustainable water management practices.

The Agriculture Department was directed to promote water-efficient farming practices, including micro-irrigation techniques and to generate awareness among farmers about water-saving crops. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department was instructed to prioritize watershed management, rejuvenation of water bodies, desilting of canals and ponds and the creation of groundwater recharge structures. The Rural Development Department was asked to leverage MGNREGA for the development of rainwater harvesting structures, soak pits, village ponds and greywater management facilities, while also undertaking awareness campaigns at the Panchayat level.

The Forest Department was directed to undertake extensive plantation drives, conserve water bodies within forest areas, and support geo-tagging initiatives. The Housing and Urban Development Department was asked to promote rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in urban areas, rejuvenate urban water bodies, and intensify public awareness activities on water conservation.

The ICDS Department was instructed to encourage similar interventions in Anganwadi Centres and strengthen community outreach efforts, with a special focus on enhancing the role of women in water conservation.

Srinagar, June 2: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Retired Accounts Personnel Welfare Forum Tuesday held a significant and highly productive meeting with the Chairman and senior officials of the 8th Central Pay Commission during their visit to Srinagar.

The delegation was led by the Forum President, Mohd Salim Zahid, who was accompanied by Mohd. Altaf Hussain, Senior Vice President and Shakir Hussain, Senior Executive Member.

On behalf of retired Accounts personnel across Jammu and Kashmir, the delegation submitted a comprehensive memorandum containing detailed recommendations relating to pension revision, healthcare, social security, and welfare measures for pensioners and family pensioners.

The Forum highlighted the unique socio-economic and geographical challenges faced by pensioners residing in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized the urgent need for a pension structure capable of ensuring dignity, financial security, and access to quality healthcare in advancing age.

The Commission accorded a patient and attentive hearing to the delegation. The Chairman and members carefully examined the issues raised and interacted extensively with the representatives, seeking clarifications and additional inputs on various proposals.

Among the major demands projected by the Forum include Revision of Fitment Factor to 3.833 for ensuring a realistic enhancement in pensions in view of inflation and rising living costs; Implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for Civil Pensioners to remove disparities between past and present retirees holding the same rank and status; Additional Pension at Five-Year Intervals from Age 65 to address increasing healthcare and maintenance costs associated with ageing; Enhancement of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to ₹3,000 per month for pensioners residing in non-CGHS areas; Universal CGHS Coverage in Jammu & Kashmir with suitable retrospective benefits for pensioners; Reduction in Pension Commutation Recovery Period from 15 years to 11 years on actuarial principles and Strengthening of social security measures for elderly pensioners and family pensioners.

Speaking after the meeting, Forum President Mohd Salim Zahid said the Commission devoted considerable time to the presentation and examined their concerns with seriousness and sensitivity.

“We are encouraged by the positive response and hopeful that the genuine issues of pensioners, particularly those residing in Jammu and Kashmir, will receive due consideration while finalizing the recommendations of the 8th Central Pay Commission.”

“We have further observed that pensioners constitute a vital segment of society and deserve a pension system that safeguards their dignity, independence, and healthcare needs during the later years of life,” he said.

The Forum expressed gratitude to the Chairman and Members of the 8th Central Pay Commission for providing an opportunity to present the concerns and aspirations of retired Accounts personnel and pensioners of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reviews progress of AMRUT 2.0 water infrastructure projects

SRINAGAR, JUNE 02: Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb Tuesday conducted a comprehensive inspection of key water supply infrastructure projects being executed under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme AMRUT 2.0, reviewing the progress of works aimed at strengthening and modernizing Srinagar’s urban water distribution network.

During the inspection, the Commissioner visited the under-construction Overhead Water Tanks (OHTs) at Jenab Sahib, Soura and Behrar Baghwanpora, Lal Bazar, where he assessed the pace of execution, quality standards, and overall physical progress of the projects. He reviewed the status of ongoing civil works and held detailed discussions with engineers and project officials regarding project timelines and implementation challenges.

Emphasizing the strategic importance of the projects, Haseeb stated that the new water storage infrastructure will substantially improve the city’s water supply system by enhancing storage capacity, strengthening distribution efficiency, and ensuring a more dependable supply of potable water to residents of the beneficiary areas.

The Commissioner directed the executing agencies to accelerate the pace of work and ensure completion of all components within the prescribed timelines without compromising quality. He stressed that timely delivery of public infrastructure projects remains a priority and called for strict adherence to technical specifications and approved project standards.

While interacting with field engineers and officials, Haseeb underscored the need for robust supervision, regular monitoring, and close inter-departmental coordination to ensure smooth execution of works. He instructed the concerned officers to proactively resolve any bottlenecks and maintain sustained momentum to avoid delays in project completion.

Reaffirming SMC’s commitment to strengthening urban infrastructure under AMRUT 2.0, the Commissioner observed that the scheme is contributing significantly to the development of resilient civic infrastructure and the enhancement of essential public services. He noted that the ongoing investments in water supply infrastructure are expected to deliver long-term benefits by improving service delivery, supporting future urban growth, and enhancing the overall quality of life for citizens.

The inspection was attended by the Joint Commissioner (Works), SMC, Executive Engineers of the Public Health Engineering Department, and other senior officials associated with the implementation of AMRUT 2.0 projects.