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| LC Question Hour: JK to constitute State Council for Promotion of Urdu: Dr Drabu | | Jammu, January (Scoop News)- Minister for Finance and Culture, Dr Haseeb Drabu today informed the Legislative Council that the recommendations of the High Level Committee constituted to look into the issue regarding promotion of Urdu language, including establishment of J&K Council for Promotion of Urdu would be implemented shortly.
Giving details, he said a high level Committee headed by Chief Secretary was set up to look into the issue which has already submitted its recommendations.
Replying to a question by Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in the Upper House, the Minister said that the High Level Committee besides other recommendations also advocated for setting up of J&K Council for promotion of Urdu. He said the recommendations of the Committee would be implemented shortly.
The Minister said that constitution of Urdu Academy in the State would be a parallel institution to replicate what an established organization J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is doing, since its inception in 1958. He said the establishment of “Jammu and Kashmir State Council for Promotion of Urdu" is recommended to achieve the desired result in the promotion of the State’s official language.
The Minister said that high level Committee also observed that Academy of Art, Culture and Languages is actively working for the promotion of various languages enshrined in the 6th schedule of the Constitution of J&K including Urdu. He said for promotion of Urdu language, the Cultural Academy undertakes publications, conducts conferences, seminars and memorial lectures, poetic symposia, short story sessions, workshops and Annual Urdu Mushairas. He said the Academy is also providing subsidy to authors for publications of their books in Urdu and various regional languages.
Dr Drabu said that best book Award has been introduced to promote quality literature, while academy is also providing financial assistance to authors in indigent circumstances. "The Academy holds state Writers camps and conducts three year course in Calligraphy," he added.
Legislators Mohammad Khurshid Alam in his supplementary question suggested that Urdu be taught in schools as compulsory subject.
Reputed PSUs to be roped in for upgradation of JK’s power infrastructure: Dr Drabu
Poor response to tenders for DDUGJY works: Farooq Andrabi
Minister for Finance and Culture Dr Haseeb Drabu today informed the Legislative Council that the government is planning to take up the power works under Deen Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Joyti Yojna (DDUGJY) in the State through reputed Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
Responding to a supplementary question by Yasir Reshi in upper house today, Finance Minister said the tenders floated for DDUGJY and other schemes for taking up various power upgradation works in the state have received very poor response.
He said the government is planning to take up all major power works through reputed PSUs on nomination basis to fast-track the upgrading of power infrastructure in the state.
Replying to the main question by Sofi Yousuf, the Minister of State for Power Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi informed the house that the works under DDUGJY have not been started in any district as yet.
The Minister said the partial turnkey tenders of DDUGJY works were initially floated in April 2016 for all districts of South Kashmir but despite granting five extensions, there was no response and finally the tenders were cancelled.
The Minister said that in view of poor response to partial turnkey tenders, the department has floated composite tenders along with PMDP works on full turnkey basis during November 2016. He said the responses are being processed for award of the works. He said PGCIL is being engaged wherever there is no response to the bids and the works will be completed within 24 months from the date of award of the contract.
32 schools torched by miscreants during recent Kashmir unrest: Priya Sethi
‘Teachers volunteered to protect educational institutions’
Minister of State for Education Priya Sethi informed the House that the miscreants torched 32 school buildings during the past 5 months of disturbances in Kashmir Valley.
Among the schools torched, 14 were fully damaged and 18 partially, she said adding police have registered cases and investigations are on. She said 47 miscreants have been arrested so far in connection with the burning of schools.
Replying to a clubbed question by Qaiser Jamshed Lone and Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, in the Upper House today, the Minister said in view of these incidents in the Valley, the Divisional Administration took various measures for protection of schools which included, among others, deployment of watch and ward staff, associating Members of Village Level Education Committee (VLEC) and Numberdars/Chowkidars/Local Auqaf Committee/Local Imams and respectable persons of the society, besides regular monitoring, fire safety measures, better lightening, etc.
The Minister informed that the Director School Education, Kashmir issued Circular/ instructions to prepare duty roster so that at least one official remained present in the school round-the-clock. She however said, it was specifically mentioned that the teachers would remain in the school during day time only. She said subsequently, in view of the availability of adequate CPWs, Chowkidars and Orderlies, the School Education Department redeployed them for watch and ward purpose so that no school categorized as 'hyper-sensitive ' and 'sensitive' was left unattended.
She said the department also involved local community in the efforts to protect the schools, which proved very successful and 15 attempts by anti-social elements to torch the schools were thwarted. She said the teachers of the department voluntarily associated themselves to protect the schools.
Asserting that elaborate steps were taken to prevent these incidents, she said the schools were categorized in three categories viz normal, sensitive and hyper sensitive. She said all sensitive and hyper sensitive schools were provided 24 hours watch and ward staff by redeploying existing manpower comprising Chowkidars/Orderlies/CPWs. She said a security plan was put in place by the security agencies which included patrolling around Schools categorized as sensitive and hyper sensitive. She said all schools were directed to adopt fire safety measures.
Legislators Ghulam Nabi Monga raised supplementary queries to the main question.
Infant mortality rate in JK has come down considerably: Bali Bhagat
‘At 26% it is now better than national average of 37%’
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Baghat informed the House that infant mortality rate has considerably decreased in the state and come well below the national average.
Responding to supplementary questions of Firdous Ahmad Tak, Surinder Mohan Ambardar and Sajad Ahmad Kichloo in the Upper House today, the Minister said that infant mortality rate in the state has come down from 34% to 26% which is well below the national average of 37%.
Highlighting the measures taken to improve healthcare, the Health Minister said that the Government has focused on filling the gap of medicos and paramedics in the hospitals especially in remote areas. He said the doctors recently selected by PSC would be posted at the earliest against vacant posts in the hospitals especially in remote areas.
The Minister said there was dearth of Radiologists in the department and the Government is imparting three month radiology training to the Medical Officers to meet the deficiency.
The Minister said that Chief Medical Officer and Block Medical Officer in Kishtwar would be posted shortly. He said the department would also take all steps to provide adequate healthcare facilities in remote areas of the district like Marwah, Wardwan, Dachan and Padder.
Replying to the main question of Firdous Ahmad Tak, the Minister said that there is shortage of doctors in health institutions of Kishtwar as in other areas of Jammu division.
The Minister said shortages are being met by means of engagement of doctors under NHM/ISM.
Meanwhile, the Minister also said that Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided framework along with model bid document, agreement etc. for operation and maintenance of Primary Health Centers and Sub-Centers in undeserved and remote areas in partnership with suitable NGOs. He said the framework and related documents are being examined for considering its implementation in the state on pilot basis.
Sukhnag, Shaliganga power projects to be retendered under revised IPP mode: Andrabi
Minister of State for Power Syed Farooq Andrabi informed the House that 9 MW Sukhnag and 3 MW Shaliganga Mini Hydropower Projects would be retendered under revised Independent Power Producer Mode (IPP), which is being framed by the Government.
Replying to a question by Saif-ud-Din Bhat in the Upper House, the Minister said pre-feasibility report for Mini Hydropower Projects including 9 MW Sukhnag and 3 MW Shaliganga was framed by JKSPDC and both these projects were tendered under J&K State Hydro Electric Projects Development Policy 2011 under Independent Power Producer (IPP) Mode in Phase-III.
The Minister informed that Letter of Award was issued for HEP Sukhnag and subsequently withdrawn due to failure of the developer to fulfill the conditions precedent to signing of implementation agreement including deposition of upfront premium and performance guarantee.
He said in case of HEP Shaliganga there was no response from any developer. He said the projects would be tendered under revised hydro policy of IPP, which is being framed.
Meanwhile the Minister informed the House that receiving stations Watterhail and Arizal have been taken up under Capex budget at an estimated cost of Rs 2.19 crore and Rs 3.80 crore respectively. He said Rs 1.31 crore and Rs 3.08 crore have been expended respectively till ending November last year on these receiving stations. He said 70% and 60% works of these receiving stations have been completed respectively. He said these projects are being implemented on turnkey basis and are targeted to be completed by end of March 2017.
The Minister said that DPR for construction of transformer repairing workshop at receiving station Kremshore has been formulated at a cost of Rs 43.21 lakh and is under examination.
Legislators Yasir Reshi and Showket Ahmed Ganai raised supplementary questions and urged for improvement and upgradation in overall power scenario in their respective constituencies.
Katra getting 6 lakh gallons of potable water daily: Sham Choudhary
‘Existing WSS being augmented to meet additional demand’
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary informed the House that pilgrim Town Katra is getting 6 lakh gallons of potable water daily from the water supply scheme fed by Dhasar Nallah.
He said the Government is mulling to upgrade the infrastructure of the existing scheme to further augment the potable water supply to the town.
Giving details, the Minister said the existing scheme was approved under STF during the year 2011-12 at an estimated cost of Rs 47.00 crore for improvement and augmentation of water supply to Katra town and its surrounding areas. He said the scheme was designed to meet the requirement of drinking water for the local population as well as the Yatries visiting the Holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
Replying to a question by Jugal Kishore Sharma in the Upper House, the Minister informed that funds allotted to WSS Katra was utilized in full and pipes of 47799 meters of different dia were laid under the jurisdiction of water supply besides Rs 2.00 crore expended on mechanical works of the said water supply scheme.
The Minister said that all the reservoirs have been constructed under the WSS for pilgrims town Katra from Dhansar Nallaha as proposed in the DPR and feeding the proposed areas for which the scheme has been executed. He said no rules have been violated by the department.
The Minister informed that the water supply scheme provides six lakh gallons of water per day adding the scheme requires infrastructure up- gradation and the department needs 19.00 crore which Planning department has agreed to provide.
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