Jammu: More than 200 building blocks and about 5,000 flats and community halls across migrant camps in Jammu are set to undergo major repair and renovation works soon, with the J&K government having approved Rs 82.45 crore for it, an official spokesperson said on Sunday.
The information was given at a meeting chaired by J&K Relief and Rehabilitation (Migrants) Commissioner Arvind Karwani, who was here to review the infrastructure, including essential services, in the migrant camps, namely Jagti township, Muthi, Purkhoo, and Mishriwala.
In the meeting, ongoing developmental and proposed maintenance and repair works for the current financial year were also discussed. The progress of extension of social sector schemes to the eligible migrant beneficiaries also came up for deliberations.
Officials of the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) informed that repair and renovation of more than 200 building blocks, around 5,000 flats, community halls and other camp infrastructure would be taken up soon and the tender process was in its closing stages.
The government has recently accorded administrative approval involving financial implications of Rs 82.45 crore for these works, the spokesperson said.
The meeting also discussed a project being formulated by PWD (R&B) for the development of internal roads and lanes, parks and other infrastructure, besides the face-lifting of migrant schools, health dispensaries and Jagti sub-district hospital.
While reviewing the status of basic amenities such as safe drinking water and power supply in the camps, the relief and rehabilitation commissioner instructed the officers of the Jal Shakti Department to take all requisite measures to ensure uninterrupted water supply and press adequate water tanker supply in the operation to supplement the water shortage.
It was apprised by the executive engineers concerned that both short- and long-term measures are being undertaken to address the water supply issue, the spokesman said.
Karwani also emphasised the need to conduct quality tests at frequent intervals to ensure hygienic drinking water supply.
The meeting was also informed that sewage treatment plants worth Rs 11.5 crore have been finalised for migrant camps Nagrota, Muthi-Buta Nagar and Purkhoo, and work will be started shortly, the spokesperson said.
Regarding extension of social sector schemes, it was observed that nearly 2,600 families have availed benefits of social sector schemes, subsequent to the digitisation and integration of the migrant ration cards into the national database.
It was also decided that camps shall be conducted from the second week of September at various locations in Jammu to create awareness about filing applications related to welfare schemes and self-employment, among others, the spokesperson said.
The officers were also directed to supervise a door-to-door campaign to reach out to all potential eligible beneficiaries of welfare schemes and help them with documentation and filing applications online.
Unimpressed residents say, it’s ‘curing cancer with a bandage’
The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a Rs 82.45-crore repair project for 5,000 flats across Jammu’s migrant camps, a move dismissed by displaced Kashmiri community as an attempt to “cure cancer with a bandage” by favouring superficial fixes over addressing deep structural flaws.
Nearly 7,000 displaced families reside across the Jagti, Muthi, TRT Nagrota, Buta Nagar, and Purkhoo camps. Residents and activists argue that the sanctioned budget is insufficient for the scale of neglect, calling for an immediate structural safety audit before any funds are spent on cosmetic upkeep.
According to an official statement issued on Sunday, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) Arvind Karwani during a review meeting on Saturday announced that the Public Works Department (PWD) will begin repairs shortly as tenders are finalised and also directed officials to perform structural audits and prioritize works in consultation with camp residents and commandants.
The PWD is formulating a project to upgrade internal roads, parks, schools, dispensaries, and the Sub-District Hospital in Jagti, while to address water shortages, the Jal Shakti Department is conceiving a Rs 10 crore project to augment water supply in Jagti Township, supported by regular quality testing and tanker supply.
A Rs 11.5-crore sewage treatment plant project has also been finalised for the Nagrota, Muthi-Buta Nagar, and Purkhoo camps.
More than 2,600 families have accessed social sector schemes following the digitisation of migrant ration cards, with a second outreach drive set to launch in mid-September to assist with welfare and skill development applications.
Karwani also directed senior officers to conduct weekly camp visits to address resident grievances and track developmental progress.
It was also decided that another round of extensive outreach camp shall be conducted from the second week of September at various locations in Jammu to create awareness in filling of applications about various welfare schemes, and self employment and skill development schemes of the government, the statement said.
The relief and rehabilitation commissioner said senior officers were directed to ensure weekly visits in the camps assigned to them as per the duty roster and take stock of all development works and grievances of the camp inmates including those related to immovable properties in Kashmir Valley.
However, the residents are not sure that the money could be of any help to complete the mammoth task mentioned by the government.
“You cannot cure cancer with a bandage; it requires chemotherapy or surgery,” said advocate Vishva Ranjan Pandita and expressed concern over how extensive works, such as slab repairs, plastering, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and civil works, can be executed safely with what he termed a meagre budget.
Social activist Vinod Khera highlighted that heavily rusted reinforcement iron is already visible in several blocks. Before spending money on paint and superficial repairs, he insisted that the structural integrity of these buildings must be scientifically assessed.
“In several buildings, exposed and heavily rusted reinforcement iron is already visible. Before spending money on plaster, paint, flooring or other superficial repairs, the structural integrity of these buildings must be scientifically assessed. If the structures are found unsafe, they require reconstruction or major structural rehabilitation, not another layer of plaster,” he said.
Kashmiri Pandit activist Naveen Bhat said that the government must conduct a formal engineering survey to fund genuine, permanent solutions rather than making deteriorating buildings temporarily presentable.
“The government needs to assess the actual requirement through a proper engineering survey and provide adequate funds accordingly. The objective must be to provide displaced families with safe and dignified housing, not merely make deteriorating buildings look presentable,” Bhat said.
Drawing a similarity, he said a bandage may cover a wound, but it cannot cure cancer “likewise, cosmetic repairs cannot cure decades of structural neglect”.
“The government must address the root of the problem if it genuinely wants to provide a permanent and dignified solution to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits,” he added.
Earlier this month, PTI had reported on the crumbling township and daily hardships of the people of Jagti township, which includes 4,242 two-room flats distributed among 24 buildings and provides accommodation for about 5,600 families.
Each family has a unit of 495 sq ft which consists of a bedroom, a kitchen and a lobby. Even though there is serious overcrowding and families are growing, about 80 flats are still unoccupied and more than half of the 200 commercial shops in the township have never been assigned.
Locals said that the buildings are rapidly falling into disrepair — the outer plaster is coming off while the inside walls are affected by continuous water seepage. The condition gets worse during the monsoon when the leaking roofs result in serious water accumulation inside, they said.(PTI)
