JAMMU: Minister for Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that the construction work of Rs 168. 25 lakh 50-bedded ST (G&B) Hostel at Mahore is nearing completion.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Khurshied Ahmed in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed the House that the work was started in the year 2009-10 at a cost of Rs 96.13 lakh which was further revised to Rs. 168.25 lakh in the year 2017-18 and the work continued till 2018-19. He said that the remaining works like the construction of boundary wall and other allied works have also been completed during the financial year 2022-23. The Hostel has a capacity of accommodating 50 inmates/students, he added.
However, the Minister said that since the building has remained in possession of security forces for a considerable period, it needs some more repairs and renovation to make it worth for utilization.
The Minister said that no compensation has been paid to the land owner, so far, and the acquisition proceedings have already been initiated for determining the compensation amount payable, which is under active consideration of concerned authorities.
He further informed that an amount of Rs. 40.00 lakh, approved under the UT Capex Budget 2023-24, has already been released and is available with the Collector Land Acquisition (SDM), Mahore. However, SDM Mahore has demanded additional funds amounting Rs 1.30 crore total aggregating to Rs. 1.70 crore approximately for payment of compensation to the land owner (s) under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, he added.
The Minster said that there is no staff sanctioned, so far, for making the said hostel functional, however, the matter is under active consideration of the government.
