SRINAGAR: A high-level team of World Bank comprising Hemang Karelia, Task Team Leader, Deepak Singh, Senior Disaster Risk Management specialist, Dr Chandershekhar, consultant /former Chief Architect, Union Ministry of Health, Supriti Dua, Financial Expert, Arghya Ghosh, Livelihood Consultant, Peeyush Sekhsaria, Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Manzoor Khan, Operations Specialist today concluded its 5-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
During the last 5 days, the team had a comprehensive discussion with the Project Management Unit of the Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project and various Project Implementation Units JKERA, PWD (R&B), I&CD, and SMC, which are executing various sub-projects under different components of World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project.
Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Chief Executive Officer J&KERA, during his meeting with the World Bank team, said that 143 sub-projects, out of the total of 213 sub-projects, have been completed under different components of the JTFR project. He added that an expenditure of Rs 1131.51 crore has been incurred under the project, so far.
The completed sub-projects included various vital road and bridge sub-projects in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions, construction of BaLA (Building as a Learning Aid) designed schools across J&K, installation of 30 Manifold Oxygen Generation plants in hospitals located in most remote areas of the UT, providing of Critical Care medical equipment to District Hospitals across J&K, construction of various Storm Water Drainage projects, development of DSS (Decision Support System), IOFS (Integrated Operational Forecasting System), study on MHRA (Multihazard Risk Assessment) for Strengthening of Disaster Management Capacity in J&K.
Dr Syed Abid along with the visiting World Bank team also visited under construction 120 bedded hospital at Bone & Joint Hospital which is being executed under JTFRP at an allotted cost of Rs 88.95 crore by NPCC (National Projects Construction Corporation). It was informed that around 48% progress has been achieved on the project, so far.
CEO ERA, directed the executing agency NPCC to ensure that the highest standards of construction be maintained in the execution of works.
Dr. Chandrashekhar, Consultant, World Bank, former Chief Architect, Union Ministry of Health, asked the contractor that works on the sub-project be executed in such a manner so that the installation of medical equipment and other hi-tech equipment in the new building is synchronized and seamless.
The World Bank team also had a meeting with Saloni Rai, Director, Industries & Commerce, Kashmir, during which progress achieved under the component of Restoration & Strengthening of Livelihoods being executed by I&CD was discussed. It was informed that with the completion of the New Composite Market Centre for Silk at Rajbagh and the Composite Market Centre for wool at Bemina besides the installation of the latest spinning/weaving equipment under the JTFR project the production capacity at these centres is showing a gradual increase.
The team also had an interaction with the members of the artisans of (04) artisan craft clusters including Papier machie, Zadibal, Crewel/Chain stitch, Noorbagh, Wool cluster, Bandipore, and Willow Wicker, Ganderbal which have been developed under Restoration & Strengthening of livelihood component of World Bank funded JTFRP.
Hemang Karelia expressed hope that I&CD would develop market linkages to these artisans’ clusters and also devise a strategy for the sustenance of these clusters after the culmination of the project.
The visiting team also had meetings with Senior officers of JKERA, PMU, JTFRP PWD, R&B, Kashmir, and SMC wherein they were briefed about progress achieved on components of construction of roads and bridges, construction of critical infrastructure, strengthening of disaster management capacity as well as strengthening of Urban Flood Management being implemented by these agencies respectively.
The World Bank team also visited the project site of the construction of the Emergency Operations Centre and SCADA control room at Ompura being constructed by J&KERA at an estimated cost of Rs 34.88 crore under the World Bank-funded JTFRP to Strengthen Disaster Management Capacity in J&K.
Earlier, during their 2-day stay in Jammu the World Bank team visited Sidhra-Suransar road, BaLA school buildings constructed at Puranapind R.S Pura, Gujjar Basti, Karnailacheck in the Jammu division.
The visiting World Bank had interactions with school children and teachers at these newly constructed BaLa schools.
During the visit to two 300 LPM Oxygen Generation Plants constructed by J&KERA at Gaghwal and Hiranagar Hospitals, the team interacted with medical professionals working in these hospitals.
Team also visited under construction (50m) steel motorable bridge from Katheel Ganjoo to Barsoa over Ghordi Nallah and a 50 M span steel bridge from Barsoa to Patri over Barmeen Nallah in Udhampur district being constructed by J&KERA at a cost of Rs 13.24 crore.
Meanwhile, a PowerPoint Presentation was also made by the Director Technical, J&KERA giving out details of progress achieved on the implementation of the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project in the Jammu division.
Director, JKERA Jammu, and other senior officers of PWD (R&B) were also present on the occasion.
