JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that the government will expedite the forest clearance for the speedy execution of road projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the cases shall be taken up with the concerned agencies for hassle-free work execution on the road network projects.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the cost-sharing pattern for PMGSY IV construction in J&K is 90 percent funded by the Centre and 10 percent by the Union Territory.
This information was given by the Deputy Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly while replying to a question raised by Legislator Payare Lal Sharma.
Regarding land compensation on account of road construction under PMGSY IV, he informed that the UT government is responsible for providing hindrance-free and encumbrance-free land for PMGSY-IV projects, including compensation for land acquisition.
The supplementary questions were raised by Legislators Nazir Ahmad Khan and Balwant Singh Mankotia on the subject.
Regular market inspections, rice sampling being conducted across J&K to check adulteration: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that regular market inspections and sampling of rice is being conducted by the Health department across Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, to check the sale of adulterated rice.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to a question raised by Legislator Shamim Firdous regarding ‘Adultered Rice’ in the House.
The Minister said that during the financial year 2025-26, 121 rice samples had been lifted and sent to NABL-accredited food testing laboratories for analysis. Of which, 110 test reports have been received so far. She informed that seven samples were reported as ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)’ and cases have been filed in the competent courts in terms of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Minister said that the department is conducting regular market inspections and sampling of rice under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar. She also informed the House that out of 7 NSQ samples, 3 have been found with Folic Acid content less than prescribed standards under FSSA, while 4 have been found with Chalky kernels exceeding the prescribed limits under FSSA.
