Jammu: Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) Dr Arvind Karwani on Saturday reviewed the status of essential services, ongoing development works and welfare measures in migrant camps across Jammu during a meeting attended by officials from multiple government departments.
The meeting assessed the availability of basic amenities, including drinking water, electricity and sanitation, besides reviewing proposed maintenance and repair works planned for the current financial year and the implementation of social welfare schemes for eligible migrant families.
Officials from the Jal Shakti Department informed the meeting that both short-term and long-term measures were being undertaken to address water supply issues in migrant camps. A major project, estimated to cost around ₹10 crore, is being planned to improve and augment water supply in Jagti Township.
Karwani directed officials to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply and supplement shortages through adequate deployment of water tankers. He also stressed the need for regular water quality testing to ensure safe and hygienic drinking water.
The Public Works Department (R&B) informed the meeting that repair and renovation works in migrant camps, including more than 200 building blocks, around 5,000 residential flats and community halls, would be taken up shortly after completion of the tendering process.
Officials said the government has recently approved works worth ₹82.45 crore for renovation and maintenance of migrant camp infrastructure. The department is also preparing a comprehensive proposal for upgrading internal roads and lanes, developing parks and improving school buildings, health dispensaries and the Sub-District Hospital at Jagti.
Karwani directed the department to conduct structural audits of camp buildings and prioritise repair works in consultation with camp residents and camp commandants.
The Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) informed the meeting that sewage treatment plants (STPs) costing around ₹11.5 crore have been finalised for migrant camps at Nagrota, Muthi-Buta Nagar and Purkhoo. Officials said work on the projects would begin shortly.
The meeting also reviewed the extension of social welfare schemes to migrant families. Officials said nearly 2,600 families have benefited from various government schemes following the digitisation and integration of migrant ration cards into the national database.
It was decided that another round of outreach camps would be organised from the second week of September at different locations in Jammu to create awareness about welfare programmes, self-employment initiatives and skill development schemes and assist eligible beneficiaries in submitting applications.
Karwani directed senior officers of the Relief Organisation to undertake weekly visits to camps under their charge to monitor development works and address grievances of camp residents, including issues related to immovable properties in Kashmir.
He also instructed officials to continue door-to-door awareness campaigns aimed at identifying eligible beneficiaries and facilitating their access to government welfare schemes.
Representatives of the Jal Shakti Department, PWD (R&B), Jammu Power Development Corporation, Urban Environmental Engineering Department, Health Department, School Education Department, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Labour and Employment Department, Skill Development Department, Rural Development Department and other agencies attended the meeting along with camp commandants and tehsildars.
