Budget Session 2025 Question Hour in LA Moratorium on establishment of air polluting units in Khrew, Khonmoh areas: Dy CM

Budget Session 2025
Question Hour in LA
Moratorium on establishment of air polluting units in Khrew, Khonmoh areas: Dy CM

JAMMU, MARCH 17: (JKNN) Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today informed the House that Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has imposed a moratorium on 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 establishment of new units shall remain in force only in respect of Cement Plants, Stone Crushers, Brick Klin, 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 break down to the Plant and machinery besides several unforeseen factors like September 2014 flood and unrest of 2016 and 2019 Covid lockdown in the valley adversely affected the performance of the company. He added that huge losses were other reasons for 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 non viability of revival of JKCL, the Administrative Council of Union Territory of J&K vide Administrative Council Decision No. 113/15/2021 dated 19.10.2021 gave in-principal approval for complete sale of the JKCL and its assets on 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 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 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 monthly honorarium of Rs.1000 only for preparation of single time meals.
The Minister informed that the demand for enhancement of 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 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 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 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 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 apple crop in 24 villages of Zainapora Constituency during harvesting season in September 2024.
He maintained that the survey regarding assessment of loss was conducted by the Chief Horticulture Officer, Shopian, jointly with 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 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 provision of benefits under Crop Insurance Scheme and Net facility to the apple growers for protection of their crops against hailstorm and other natural calamities.
Shabir Ahmad Kullay raised a supplementary.
Ensure timely pension disburdenment 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 NSAP-PPS portal.
Mubarak Gul, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Tanvir Sadiq and Javed Ahmad Mirchal raised the supplementaries to the question.
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 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 procurement of pipes being used in these schemes, of which, pipes costing Rs. 12.79 crore have been issued for utilization in these schemes 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 the 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 the work on the fifth is in progress.
Legislators; Arvind Gupta and Chander Prakash Ganga raised supplementaries 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 restriction stand imposed on 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 stand imposed since 24th April, 2024, on 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 enquiry into the matter as has been ordered by the Financial Commissioner, (Revenue) J&K, vide Order No: 03- FC (Rev) of 2024 dated 24-04- 2O24 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 declaration of the Old City Jammu as 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 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 SMVD constituency adding that Bhomag village falls under Block Medical Officer Reasi and there is no such sanctioned post of BMO Bhomag. Further, no such 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 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 of 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 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 the healthcare facilities at grassroots level in the month of November, 2024. She informed that the department is also in process of operating waitlist in respect of 91 selectee Medical Officers, whose services will also be utilized in the underserved areas across the J&K.
The Minister added that 181 posts of Medical Officers are about to be received from Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, which will significantly reduce the 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 respect of 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 up gradation of CHC Katra to SDH or ADH, the Minister said that up gradation of any health institute will be taken under IPHC norms, if needed.
Regarding staff position in healthcare institutions in SMVD constituency, the Minister said that against 184 (Medical and Paramedical) sanctioned posts, 107 have been filled up while 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 Medial Officers and two Dental Surgeons are among other dedicated staff, 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 the month of November 2024, 365 selectees were appointed as Medical Officers in the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services, out of these, 16 were posted in the far-flung/peripheral health institutes of Anantnag district strengthening the healthcare facilities at grassroots level.
The Minister informed that there are 4 sanctioned posts of Medical Officers at Sub District Hospital (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. Besides, sanctioned posts of 2 Dental Surgeons for SDH Shangus are also in place, she added.
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 up gradation of health institutions mainly depend upon multiple parameters vis; population, infrastructure, distance from nearby Health institutions, work load and fulfilment of conditionality of IPHS norms-2022 and circular instructions of the Government issued from time to time.

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