Rajnath reviews progress of PMDP in J&K

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Srinagar on September 9, 2017, on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He was received at the airport by the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh, senior minister Abdul Rehman Veeri and senior officials of the state government.

“I am going there with an open mind and I am willing to meet anyone who will help us in finding solutions to problems facing J&K,” said Rajnath Singh in a tweet before leaving for Srinagar.

Soon after his arrival, the Union Home Minister had an hour long one-to-one meeting with CM Mehbooba Mufti. Rajnath later reviewed the status of implementation of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister  Nirmal Kumar Singh, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Chief Secretary of J&K BB Vyas and senior officers of the MHA and state government. The Union Home Minister asked the authorities to expedite the implementation of the PMDP in a time bound manner saying it will create jobs for the people of J&K, according to a PIB release.

The PMDP, a Rs 80,068 crore package announced by the PM Narendra Modi on November 7, 2015, covers 63 projects pertaining to 15 Ministries of the Government of India. The Union Government has already sanctioned Rs 63,000 crores for the various projects, which amounts to 78 percent of the total cost of the PMDP package. An amount of nearly Rs 22,000 crore has been released, according to the PIB release.

Nearly two years after the PMDP-2015 was announced, five of the 63 projects have been completed. They include Chenani-Nashri tunnel at a cost of  Rs 781 crore, announcement of remuneration to Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Rs.3,000 per month to upto Rs 6,000 per month as well as assistance provided for Pucca and Kuchcha houses damaged during the 2014 flood. An investment of about Rs.5,810 crore under Power Sector is being made to improve the transmission and distribution network in the state. Besides, the Central Government is supporting the state with an investment of Rs.3,790 crore on Pakaldul hydroelectric project, according to the PIB release.