Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to social welfare and infrastructure development, announcing progress on a scheme to provide free electricity to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families while also detailing multiple housing projects being taken up across the Union Territory.
Replying to questions in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo said the government is committed to providing 200 units of free electricity per month to every AAY household in Jammu and Kashmir. She informed the House that the project is at its final stage of approval.
Responding to a query raised by legislator Shakti Raj Parihar, the Minister said that Doda district currently faces power cuts ranging from three to six hours daily under the load curtailment programme, excluding additional shedding imposed by the State Load Dispatch Centre due to overall power availability. She added that areas such as Prem Nagar, Dhara, Thathri, Bhatyas, Gandoh, and Bhalessa experience extra curtailment because of system constraints, including long feeder lengths, capacity limitations, voltage issues, and technical losses.
The Minister said the government has launched an Amnesty Scheme for domestic power consumers, waiving interest and surcharge on accumulated dues, which will remain in force till March 31, 2026. She also highlighted the implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), a Government of India initiative to strengthen power distribution infrastructure. In Doda district, she said, PESL Limited has been engaged as the Project Implementation Agency on behalf of JPDCL, with RDSS works awarded to M/s Vijay Electricals on September 8, 2023. The overall physical progress of RDSS works in the district stood at 31 percent as of January-end.
She further informed the House that smart metering is being implemented in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 6.45 lakh smart meters already installed under PMDP Phases I and II. The Minister also said that recruitment for Junior Engineers, Tech-III, Junior Assistants, and Junior Stenographers under the direct recruitment quota has been initiated, while departmental promotion committees have been directed to immediately fill vacant promotion quota posts.
In a separate reply, Sakeena Itoo said the government, through the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board, in coordination with the Jammu Development Authority and the Srinagar Development Authority, has taken up multiple housing projects across Jammu and Kashmir to meet the housing needs of the local population.
She informed the House that the Srinagar Development Authority has undertaken the Shehjar Heights Apartments project along the National Highway Bemina Bypass at an estimated cost of ₹84.78 crore, offering 112 flats—56 two-bedroom and 56 three-bedroom units—to the general public. Applications have been invited through an online portal, with the last date set as February 20, 2026, and the project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
The Minister further said that SDA has proposed the development of a Satellite Township over 150 hectares along the National Highway Bypass at Bemina (Rakhi Gund Aksha), Srinagar, which will be commissioned after submission of DPRs by the concerned agency.
She added that housing projects are also being developed at Chak Bhalwal, Chowadhi, and Bhalwal in Jammu; Birpur in Samba; Chatterhama in Srinagar; Bakoora in Ganderbal; Watapora in Bandipora; and Padgampura in Pulwama. As per the Jammu and Kashmir Housing, Affordable Housing, Slum Redevelopment and Rehabilitation and Township Policy, 2020, 20 percent of housing units in these projects will be reserved for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) categories.
The information was shared in response to questions raised by legislators Nizamuddin Bhat and Tariq Hameed Karra, with a supplementary question raised by Mubarik Gul during the proceedings.
