Question Hour in LA Rs. 37.77 Cr funds allocated under Cities & Towns in Rajouri for 2025-26 FY: Dy CM Says Rs. 7.50 crore utilized on Mini Secretariat Rajouri

SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 31: The Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today said that an amount of Rs 37.77 crore funds have been allocated for 277 works under Cities and Towns in Rajouri District for the year 2025-26.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by the Legislator Iftikhar Ahmad in the Legislative Assembly today.
He said that the Mini Secretariat, Rajouri stands approved under the Special Task Force (STF) for the year 2011-12 for an amount of Rs. 10.00 crore, out of which Rs. 7.50 crore have been utilized.
He said that the sub structure work including the erection of columns has been completed at site. “However, matter shall be pursued with the district administration for settlement of the issue,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that an amount of Rs. 4942.16 lac has been for undertaking 53 projects under NABARD and UT Capex in Rajouri District, the areas covered are Kalakote- Sunderbani, Nowshehra, Rajouri, Budhal and Surankote. Similarly under District Capex an amount of Rs. 8791 lac has been earmarked for Rajouri during the year 2025-26.
He said that the projects including Roads and bridges are prioritized as per established norms, assessed field requirements, availability of resources, and recommendations received from MLAs and DDC Members to ensure equitable and need-based development across all areas.
Upgradation of degree colleges as per public requirements, not political interference: Education Minister
Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the 52 newly sanctioned degree colleges are being made fully functional before any proposal will be taken for opening new degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister stated this while replying to a clubbed question of Legislators, Nizamuddin Bhat, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Bhagat, Muzaffer Iqbal Khan, Choudhary Akram and Dr Rameshwar Singh regarding establishment of Degree Colleges, in Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister highlighted that the upgradation of degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir will not be on any kind of political interference, rather it will be as per the requirements of public. She also said that Health and Education sectors are very important sectors which reflect development of any society, adding that these sectors shouldn’t be looked with the prism of vote bank.
The Minister informed that for establishment of Degree College at Manjakote, State Level Empowered Standing Committee has been constituted earlier to examine the feasibility/ location and identify the un-served areas for establishment of Colleges. She added as per feasibility report submitted to the Administrative Department the land measuring 72 Kanals 15 Marla in Village Lower Saroola, 9 Kanals in Village Lower Mangar (Nagar) and 56 Kanals custodian land at Talwad at village Dehri Dhara was made available for the establishment of college.
Regarding establishment of Degree College Arnia, the Minister said that the department of Higher Education is receiving demands from different sections of society including MLAs which are being evaluated as per feasibility parameters on the subject. She added that as per the feasibility report for opening of Degree College Arnia, Jammu is concerned, the existing GDC R.S. Pura and GDC Bishnah being approximately 17 Kms away, serve the educational needs of the area. She also said that besides these, 7 Degree Colleges are operational in the Jammu District, and with the current enrollment patterns at GDC RS Pura and GDC Bishnah, the focus remains on enhancing the existing institutions. She further said that the establishment of new Degree College in the vicinity may be reassessed upon achieving optimum enrolment and operationalization capacity at GDC RS Pura and GDC Bishnah.
Regarding establishment of Degree College Lohai-Malhar, the Minister informed that the matter has been examined in the Department and it has been observed on the basis of feasibility report submitted by the committee constituted for the purpose, that it was decided to establish a Degree College at Lohai Malhar in view of remoteness/ topography of the area, as well as the distance from the nearest Degree College (i.e. 60 Kms from GDC Bani).
Regarding establishment of Degree College for Women in Bandipora, Education Minister said that the existing Government Degree College, Bandipora presently caters to the higher educational needs of the region, with an enrolment of 497 female and 530 male students. She added that in addition to GDC Bandipora, there are further 7 Degree Colleges operational in the district, each reflecting an almost suitable enrolment of female students vis-à-vis their male counterparts.
Education Minister further added that with the current enrolment patterns at GDC Bandipora and other colleges of the district, the focus remains on ensuring the delivery of quality education up to the required standards, and strengthening academic infrastructure.
Regarding Land for Degree College Surankote, the Minister informed that Tehsildar Surankote has identified State land measuring 66 kanals at village Kotlaha, for the construction of the Government Degree College for Women at Surankote, adding that the land has been transferred to Principal, Govt. Degree College, Surankote.
Rs. 2.26 Cr WSS Gassu approved for supply of portable water in Hazratbal Constituency: Jal Shakti Minister
Minister for Jal Shakti Department, Javed Ahmad Rana today said that the Rs. 2.26 Cr WSS Gassu has been approved for supply of portable water to residents of Hazratbal Constituency.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator, Salman Sagar in the Legislative Assembly today.
He said that there habitations including Tailbal, Khimber, Chandpora, Gasoo, Faquir Gujree, Chatarhama and adjoining areas of Hazratbal Constituency are being supplied drinking water supply facilities satisfactorily.
He said that these areas lie on the boundary of SMC and fall within the Ganderbal Division. However, during peak season, these areas are facing shortage of drinking water supply due to misuse of water by the inhabitants (online booster, watering gardens, washing vehicles and construction purposes etc). However, any shortage in supplies is addressed by deploying Water tankers.
Moreover, the area of Tailbal currently receives water from a 60,000-gallon Overhead Tank (OHT) sourced by a tube well. To enhance the water supply to Tailbal and its adjoining areas and serve the growing demand in future, a new OHT is being constructed along with a dedicated bore well which is in the final stage of completion.
Further, he said that to augmentation the future demand, a new scheme under UT Capex titled WSS Gassu has been approved with an estimated cost of Rs. 226.32 lakhs and is under process of tendering.
Regarding the concerns of farmers confronting deficient irrigation facilities, the Minister said that the command areas are adequately connected through the existing gravity canal system of the Mavas Canal, which is fed from the Dachigam Nallah. During peak season or in case of deficient rains/scarcity, additional irrigation requirements are being met through the Sind Extension Canal drawing water from the Nallah Sind (Ganderbal), and further tail end areas are supplemented by three Lift Irrigation Stations, namely LIS Batpora A & B and LIS Tailbal.
The Minister said that the adequate steps are being undertaken for strengthening critical and vulnerable spots along irrigation canals to ensure smooth and uninterrupted irrigation facilities. In this regard, various works are already being taken up during CFY 2025-26 under M&R, CDF, and UT Capex.
Adding the Minister said that additionally, under the UT Capex, a provision of Rs. 100.00 lac has been earmarked for the strengthening of SE Canal for further upgradation and augmentation of drinking and irrigation facilities.
Supplementaries were raised by Legislator, Mubarak Gul and Tanvir Sadiq.
50 percent teaching posts being de-freezed: Sakeena Itoo
Says Legislators consulted for infrastructure development, construction of 33 School buildings approved/sanctioned during year 2024-25 & 2025-26 under Samagra Shiksha in Budhal Constituency
Minister for Health and Education Departments, Sakeena itoo today said that the government is de-freezing 50 percent of teaching posts in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Javaid Iqbal in the Legislative Assembly today.
She said that the recruitment of teachers would address staff shortage in schools and facilitate better education to the students, enrolled in government schools.
The Minister said that the government is taking massive infrastructure development of schools under SAMAGRA to provide adequate and all basic facilities to the students in all schools.
“Elected representatives are consulted for prioritizing infrastructure development in their areas,” the Minister said.
Sharing details, the Minister said that there are total 917 positions of including Principals, Lecturers, ZEOs, Headmasters, Masters and Teachers in Budhal out of which 484 are in position and 433 positions are vacant.
She said that the 67 Government Schools in Budhal Constituency are functioning without their own buildings, out of which 33 Schools buildings are approved/sanctioned during the years 2024-25 & 2025-26 under Samagra Shiksha. The remaining buildings shall be proposed under the subsequent actions under Samagra Shiksha, UT/District Capex in a phased manner.
While as 115 number of school buildings in Budhal Constituency have been declared unsafe aftermath recent flash floods
Further, the Minister said that 26 number of teachers are posted in “Aspirational Block” Khawas in Budhal Constituency during recent ATD.
The Minister said that the overall PTR in Rajouri District is 15:1 and the PTR in Budhal Constituency is 24:1, which is within the prescribed National norms of 30:1. He said the shortage of staff is being addressed through rationalization to maintain the PTR.
She said that the initiatives taken by the School Education Department to meet out the dearth of teaching/non-teaching staff in Budhal Constituency include Engagement of 32 CRCs, Engagement of 5 Subject Specific teachers, Regularization of 37 Contingent Paid workers as MTS, Posting of 02 Junior Assistants in ZEO Office Peeri and Rationalization of teaching staff is under process.
The Minister said that the Project “Tameer” conceived by District Administration Rajouri for construction of 100 school buildings sanctioned with convergence mode with MGNREGA in the Year 2015-16. Out of 100 buildings, 40 buildings fall in Budhal Constituency out of which 02 were completed.
Govt. for strengthening existing infrastructure, filling vacancies: Education Minister
Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the Government is focusing on strengthening existing infrastructure in schools and filling vacancies to cater the growing educational needs of students rather than opening new schools.
The Minister said this while replying to a clubbed question of Legislators, Mir Saifullah and Farooq Ahmad Shah on upgradation of schools in Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister informed the house that there is no such proposal with the Government for up-gradation of schools to their next higher level (Primary to Middle, Middle to High and High to Higher Secondary) as the School Education Department is presently focusing on strengthening of existing schools by way of creation of required infrastructure and providing staff to all the existing schools across the Union Territory especially the upgraded ones.
She further said that the up-gradation of schools from High school to Higher secondary level involves establishing infrastructure, creation of posts of lecturers and non-teaching staff, involving huge financial implications and requires concurrence form the Finance Department.
The Minister also informed the house that as and when the department proposes up-gradation of schools the demand for upgradation of schools of Trehgam constituency shall be examined for consideration.