JAMMU, FEBRUARY 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the Jammu and Kashmir government is working with the Centre on crucial water supply projects including the Tulbul Navigation Barrage at Sopore and a proposal to pump water from the Chenab River at Akhnoor to meet Jammu’s future needs, in light of recent developments concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The Chief Minister made these remarks while intervening during supplementary questions raised by several MLAs in the Legislative Assembly today.
“I have said this before in the House and I have said it through the press and I will repeat it again. If we have to ensure water availability for the next 30 to 40 years for Jammu, then we must look at new and sustainable solutions,” asserted the Chief Minister.
He recalled that during our previous regime, the intention was to bring water from the Chenab at Akhnoor to Jammu. However, the proposal could not move forward due to constraints arising from the Indus Waters Treaty.
“We had submitted this proposal to the Asian Development Bank under the ERA programme but it was not agreed to because of restrictions linked to the Indus Waters Treaty,” he informed the House.
He added that with the Indus Waters Treaty currently in abeyance, the government is now actively working with the Government of India on two major initiatives.
“One is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage on the Jhelum at Sopore and the other is pumping water from the Chenab at Akhnoor to Jammu,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that work on these schemes would begin at the earliest. “We are working on both of these and I hope that work will start as soon as possible,” he added.
Emphasising the need for long-term planning, the Chief Minister said efforts would also continue to revive the defunct wells, reform existing schemes and install new tube wells.
“We will have to think about the next 30, 40, or even 50 years for Jammu. With traditional water supply schemes alone, we will not be able to meet the growing demand,” he added.
Earlier, replying to a main question raised by Legislator Arvind Gupta on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Health Minister, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that a DPR has been formulated for permanent restoration of 600 mm and 500 mm dia Sitllee – Manda rising mains amounting Rs. 95.97 lakh and submitted to Deputy Commissioner, Jammu for release of funds under SDRF/DMRRR/available District resources.
The Minister said that a proposal amounting Rs. 9215.94 lakh has also been submitted by the department to Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Finance Department for development of infrastructure damaged during the recent flash floods including 600 mm and 500 mm dia Sitllee – Manda rising mains, adding that the release of funds is still awaited.
She also informed that Tube Well at Women Polytechnic College, Jammu and Tube Well at front side of Forest Office near Kamdhenu Flats Jammu have been taken up under AMRUT-2.0. She added that various works have been taken up for improvement of water supply in Jammu West Constituency.
The Minister also informed that the matter regarding redevelopment/restoration of the defunct Tubewell in Jammu West is under active consideration. It is proposed to be taken up by the Jal Shakti department under District CAPEX Budget during the next financial year 2026-27, she added.
Legislators Sham Lal Sharma and Vikram Singh Randhawa raised supplementary questions.
Govt considering 5 marla land allotment to Bagra flood victims: Deputy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that the government is considering allotment of 5 marla land plots to the eligible families hit by flash floods at village Bagra in Kathua district on the intervening night of 16th and 17th August 2025.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to a question raised by Legislator Dr. Bharat Bushan in the Legislative Assembly today.
He said that as per SDRF norms, a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh each was released in favour of the Next of Kin (NOK) of the deceased and additional Rs. 2 lakh each was also released through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He added that Chairman, Red Cross Society Kathua (Deputy Commissioner Kathua) also released Rs. 50,000 compensation each to the NOKs of the deceased.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that heavy flash floods triggered by flash rains and landslides occurred in several areas of Village Bagra, which resulted in unfortunate loss of two persons and damages to various private and public properties.
He informed the House that seven houses fully damaged during the flash floods were duly compensated as per SDRF guidelines. He added that temporary restoration measures have been taken by the district administration while the line departments are taking further necessary action for permanent restoration. He said that during this period, the affected families were shifted to safe lodgement centres, where all basic amenities like food, water, medicines and blankets were provided to them.
The Deputy CM added that the link road in Bagra has been damaged to a length of 1.20 km and some temporarily restored stretches will be fully reinstated by August 2026.
He said that during the recent spell of heavy rainfall/flash floods, certain low-lying areas of Kathua Town were affected, resulting in damage to residential houses and property, particularly in areas located near natural drainage channels and Kathua Khad. He said that due to sudden heavy discharge of rainwater, Kathua Khad experienced overflow at several vulnerable locations, causing erosion of embankments.
He added that the proposal of channelization and protection work in Sahar Khad has been duly incorporated in the DPRs titled “Construction of flood protection works on Sahar Khad/Maggar Khad/Sukhal Khad and other tributaries of river Ravi” under NABARD, with a total estimated cost of Rs. 1500.71 lakh.
He said that the DPR is presently under process with the Jal Shakti Department for obtaining requisite approval.
Javed Rana assures adequate availability, supply of timber across J&K
Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Javed Ahmed Rana today reaffirmed strong coordination among all wings of the Forest Department saying that timber is being regularly supplied to eligible beneficiaries.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh in the Legislative Assembly today.
Rana said that there is proper coordination between the JKFDC and other wings of the Forest Department for extraction of timber stocks and their distribution among the beneficiaries.
Providing division wise details about the quantity of timer distributed, the Minister informed the House that in the Jammu division, 816,276 cubic feet of timber was provided in 2023–24, 768,783 cubic feet in 2024–25 and 512,977 cubic feet in 2025–26, benefiting 4,522, 4,428 and 3,305 beneficiaries, respectively. In the Kashmir division, 174,836 cubic feet of timber was distributed in 2023–24, 208,450 cubic feet in 2024–25 and 258,670 cubic feet in 2025–26, benefitting 2197, 2522 and 3145 eligible beneficiaries respectively, he added.
The Minister informed that the Forest Development Corporation supplies timber to the consumers as per the government policy and JKFDC is regularly supplying timber to AAY beneficiaries (APL, BPL, PHH & NPH) at concessional rates and to AAY beneficiaries exclusively at concessional rates of 50 percent.
He added that the Forest Department issues permission for felling the trees to the eligible persons living near the forests under Jammu Forest Notice and Kashmir Forest Notice for construction purpose.
The Minister further informed that the Territorial Wing of the Forest Department under J&K Forest Notice has supplied 7,51,950 cft of timber upto January, 2026. Besides, the J&K Forest Development Corporation Limited has provided 15,63,571 cft of timber through its 211 CTSDs to the bonafide beneficiaries and presently 6,22,983 cfts is still available in these depots for sale, he added.
Regarding the seized timber, the Forest Minister informed that the seized timber is disposed of after completing legal process of confiscation under section 52 of Indian Forest Act. The confiscated timber is subsequently handed over to the Forest Development Corporation Limited for disposal, he added.
Legislators Irshad Rasool Kar and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo) raised supplementary questions.
Govt committed to restore autonomous status, pristine glory of SKIMS: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today said that SKIMS Soura is an important health institution established under the visionary leadership of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah to provide advanced medical care facilities to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah in Legislative Assembly today.
The Health Minister highlighted that the government is committed to restore the autonomous status of SKIMS while reviving its pristine glory.
She added that after the present government took over in October 2024, high end medical equipments like LINAC, Cath Labs and other facilities have been installed in various health facilities across J&K for better treatment of patients. “There is no compromise on patient care”, she maintained.
The Health Minister highlighted that SKIMS Soura was established in the year 1976 and post re-organization of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir, certain administrative arrangements relating to composition of the Governing Body have undergone change. She added that SKIMS continues to award degrees in accordance with the provisions of the SKIMS (Grant of Degrees) Act, 1983.
The Minister further said that as per the applicable Transaction of Business Rules, the subject of SKIMS continues to be assigned to the Health & Medical Education Department. The funding structure of SKIMS remains unchanged and the budgetary allocations continue to be made under the Health Budget as was the position earlier, she added.
Health Minister elaborated that SKIMS Soura had an independent Engineering Wing before re-organization. Post-reorganization, these wings were merged as part of a broader administrative restructuring.
She added that the Engineering Wing of SKIMS now stands subsumed with the Public Works (R&B) Division Soura, located within the SKIMS premises. She said that the developmental and maintenance works of SKIMS are presently being executed through this Division.
The Minister also said that all ongoing and pending works of SKIMS were duly taken over by the executing agency and have been carried forward in a time-bound manner. She added that most of the works have been completed both physically and financially and the remaining are at an advanced stage of completion.
Legislators Tanvir Sadiq, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Mir Saifullah, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani and Saif-u-din Bhat raised supplementary questions.
Comprehensive SWM Plan rolled out across Anantnag district: Javid Ahmad Dar
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar informed the House that a systematic and comprehensive Solid Waste Management (SWM) plan has been formulated and is being implemented across all blocks of district Anantnag, including Shangus, Khoveripora, Achabal and Chittergul.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Rayez Ahmad Khan regarding waste management, the Minister stated that substantial infrastructure has already been created under SBM-G. He added that one segregation shed per panchayat, community compost pits, individual household compost pits and centralised Plastic Waste Management Units across all 16 blocks of the district have been created.
The Minister also said that panchayat-wise segregation at source has been strengthened through household and community compost pits for biodegradable waste and dustbins for non-biodegradable waste. He added that the department is actively conducting IEC awareness campaigns and capacity-building programmes to bring about behavioural change among the rural households.
He also informed that in Shangus-Anantnag East Constituency, four Plastic Waste Management Units are functional with waste segregation being carried out fortnightly.
The Minister also informed that the infrastructure already created included 84 segregation sheds,117 community compost pits, 291 community soak pits,101 community sanitary complexes, 04 plastic waste management units and 09 waste collection vehicles. He added that during the current financial year, 05 segregation sheds, 68 community compost pits, 83 community soak pits and 84 community sanitary complexes are under execution.
The Minister further informed that in Annual Action Plan 2026–27 under SBM-G and in convergence with VB-GRAMG (MGNREGA), proposals have been made for 10 community compost pits, 1998 individual compost pits, 25 community soak pits, 10,456 individual soak pits and 08 motorized vehicles to further strengthen Solid and Liquid Waste Management infrastructure.
Responding to a supplementary question on monitoring and operational efficiency, the Minister said that no vulnerable waste dumping spot has been identified in the area. He added that any reports of open dumping are addressed immediately and identification and allotment of suitable dumping sites is being strictly followed.
The Minister said that door-to-door waste collection, segregation at source, composting of biodegradable waste and scientific disposal of residual waste are being ensured. Besides, regular awareness drives are being conducted to educate the rural households on cleanliness and safe waste disposal practices.
For further strengthening the system, the Minister said that 31 additional vehicles, 670 community dustbins and 3 lakh individual dustbins have been proposed for Anantnag district under the Annual Action Plan 2026–27.
He also highlighted that effective Operation & Maintenance (O&M) arrangements are being strengthened across all SBM-G/SLWM assets. A dedicated policy is under finalization and the Finance Department has already earmarked 10 percent of annual PRI Capex allocation exclusively for O&M of SBM-G/SLWM assets to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Minister stated that a robust monitoring and accountability framework is in place at the block and panchayat level. He added that By-laws have been framed and notified for every panchayat and regular monitoring is being conducted by the field functionaries.
