Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, July 03 (KINS): Development will be a main focus for the government in coming months after suffering heavy losses due to second wave of COVID-19.
A senior bureaucrat in the Manoj Sinha led administration told news agency KINS that in the past three months, COVID-19 had a major impact. “But now development has again gained momentum here,” the official said.
Since the imposition of lockdown, the developmental works were halted. However the administration issued directions for resumption of works while adhering to COVID SOPs at the workplaces.
The official said that the government has resumed construction work on 491 projects engaging over 6,000 labourers across J&K to ensure their timely completion.
The official said that the construction work has resumed on 490 projects— 329 in Jammu and 161 in Kashmir province— providing work to 6175 labourers. The number of works resumed in Jammu is higher as the number of red zones in that province is lesser than that of Kashmir.
Besides, the PWD has also sought permission from respective DCs to resume construction work at 1138 sites.He said that construction work has been resumed in accordance with set SOPs and guidelines.He said that the government’s aim in starting the work apart from completing the projects on time was also to benefit the labourers who are suffering.
“PWD is in process for seeking permission from concerned DCs for resumption of more construction works in non-red zone areas. However there will be no resumption of work in areas declared as red-zones by concerned authorities,” he said.
As per the figures, R&B Jammu has taken lead in resumption of construction works post lockdown. The department has resumed work on 157 projects engaging 2153 labourers. The PMGSY Jammu has restarted 151 construction works.
Meanwhile the official said that in keeping with the promise of quick and transparent recruitment of workers for government jobs, the J&K administration had advertised 10,000 posts at all levels under an accelerated recruitment process for young people, with 25,000 additional jobs to be filled in subsequent phases.
He said that the UT J&K is one of the best-performing union territories/states in India in the management of COVID-19.
Additionally, assistance had been approved for groups adversely affected by the pandemic.(KINS)
