Dy CM chairs 72^nd BODs meeting of SDA

Asks authority to Concentrate on meeting housing needs of people

Srinagar July 10, 2012: Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Tara Chand has asked Srinagar Development Authority to concentrate on establishment of new residential colonies to meet the growing housing needs of the people in Srinagar city. He said formation of nucleus families have increased needs of the people and asked the officers of the authority to come up with new housing projects focusing all parts of the city.

            Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at 72^nd Board of Directors meeting of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) here today.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Nasir Aslam Wani, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Vice Chairman, SDA, Farooq Renzushah, Commissioner SMC, Dr. G.N.Qasba besides senior officers of the authority were present on the occasion.

Asking for proper and judicious utilization of land available with the Authority, the Deputy Chief Minister said that proper application of land management has become imperative in view of the non availability of state land in Srinagar city. 

Mr Tara Chand asked officers to keep vigil on Srinagar Master Plan and ensure that it is not violated. He said the master plan has been framed aimed to develop Srinagar city to meet future needs of the people.

Advocating for applying self financing pattern in up-coming housing and commercial projects, The Deputy Chief Minister asked the concerned to develop sites on joint venture pattern to safeguard the interest of the Authority. 

Mr Nasir Aslam Wani asked the officers to maintain inter departmental coordination and ensure that projects framed are completed in time. He asked them to keep in account the public demands while formulating projects.

Giving the details of the projects, Vice Chairman said that a massive plan has been framed under the economic revival of Shahr-e-Khas by way of modernizing the authority assets on commercial lines.  He said three more shopping complexes are proposed to be developed in Srinagar city.

Dy CM reviews working of UDA

Calls for awareness camps to sensitize people about the schemes

SRINAGAR, JULY 10: Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Tara Chand has asked the officers of Urban Development Agency (UDA) to bring maximum beneficiaries under the ambit of the schemes of the agency and focus on imparting training to youth in job oriented  courses  under Skill Training for Employment Promotion amongst Urban Poor (STEP-UP) programme.

            The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a reviewing meeting of  UDA here today.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Home and Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Chief Executive Officers of UDAK and JUDA besides other district officer of the agency were present on the occasion.

Underlining need for holding awareness camps on ward and town levels to sensitize the people about the schemes being run by the agency, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it will go a long way in brining genuine and deserving persons under the ambit of the schemes of the agency. He said the schemes are meant for urban poor and asked officers to conduct thorough survey of their respective areas of activity and identify the genuine beneficiaries need support.

Mr Tara Chand asked officers to seek the consultation of the public representatives while organizing awareness camps. He said this will help in identifying the genuine and needy person for financial assistance.

Deputy Chief Minister said that aim of launching these schemes is to extend financial support to urban poor  and asked officers to work with full dedication so that the purpose of the schemes are achieved fully. He said the beneficiary should not pin hope only for cashing the subsidy amount but should be guided properly so that the ventures they chose will become his permanent economic activity.

Asking for achieving fixed targets in full, Mr Tara Chand said that action against defaulter would be evident. “It is our collective responsibility to work for up-liftment of the poor and needy persons” said the deputy chief minister, adding that agency provides a platform where from  we can serve our society. 

Mr Nasir Aslam Wani asked the officers to mobilize all available human resources and gear up the activities so that the benefit of the schemes will reach to genuine and deserving persons. “ We should not expect good results until and unless we do something good”, said the Minister and asked officers to conduct survey of their respective areas so that genuine and deserving population is targeted and brought under the schemes of the agency.  

The meeting was told that Rs. 4.30 crore have been expended during last fiscal against the total allocation of Rs. 5.70 crore under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY], while  2894  persons are getting computer training under the scheme.

            Over 4700 persons are being brought under the Urban Self Employment Programme, Urban Women Self Help Programme an skill training for employment promotion amongst Urban Poor during current fiscal, the meeting was informed. Accordingly, 786 persons belonging to minority urban poor, SC and ST urban poor have been targeted to bring under the schemes during current fiscal, it was informed.

CM to launch distribution of modern carpet looms on July 12

SICOP to touch all time high of Rs. 1000 cr Business turnover this fiscal

            SRINAGAR, JULY 10-1n view of the continued better performance of Jammu & Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP) since last three years and during the 1^st quarter of the current fiscal, the Minister for Industries & Commerce, Mr. S. S. Slathia today fixed a target of Rs.1000 crore turn over to the Corporation for the current financial year. The Corporation , which is a major profit earning Public Sector Undertakings of the State, has registered 39% increase in the turnover and about 16% increase in the income level during the first quarter of current fiscal over the achievements made during the corresponding period of last fiscal.

            Speaking at the 83^rd meeting of the Board of Directors of the J&K SICOP today, Mr. Slathia enjoined upon the management of the Corporation to strive hard further to optimize all the business opportunities. He appreciated the Corporation for registering all time high business turnover of Rs. 805 crore during the last fiscal against the previous year’s (2010-11) composite turnover of Rs. 651.43 crore.

            It was informed during the meeting that the Govt. of India has approved    replacement of 8000 looms by  modern Carpet Looms under “Comprehensive Handicraft (Carpet) Cluster Development Scheme” (CHCDS).  SICOP has successfully manufactured 500 modern carpet looms in the first phase, the allotment letters of which shall be handed over to beneficiaries by Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah in the function to be held on 12^th July, 2012 at Srinagar.

            Mr. Slathia also gave a deadline of December this year for completion of the prestigious Rs. 27.21 crore Sanat Ghar at Bemina, Srinagar which is being constructed on the pattern of Udyog Bhawan, Jammu to accommodate all the Departments and Corporations under the administrative  control of Industries & Commerce department under one roof. The construction of Sanat Ghar has been got enlisted for monitoring by M/s. NABCON.

            The Managing Director of the SICOP, Mr. R.K. Razdan informed the meeting that the development of Rs. 8.64 crore Industrial Estate at Govindsar Kathua under Integrated Infrastructure Development (IID) scheme of the Union Ministry of MSME has been completed. The Common facility Centre (CFC) building has been completed which shall house Bank, Post Office, Dispensary etc. He informed that  Upgradation of Industrial Estate, Gangyal with the assistance of Micro  and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme is in full swing.   The State Govt. is framing a Project Monitoring Committee shortly to oversee the execution of works, he added. He said a detailed project report for development of industrial Estate at Majalta in District Udhampur is being prepared shortly. He said DPR for development of Silk Tech Park at Thandapani in District Rajouri has also been prepared and submitted to SIDBI for appraisal. The project cost for the park has been worked out at about Rs. 13.00 crore adding that the park will house 50 silk units. The park will be developed under the scheme of Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme.

            The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Finance Mr. Iqbal Khanday, Commissioner /Secretary Industries & Commerce Mr. Shantmanu, Director, Industries & Commerce Department, Kashmir Mr. Meraj-ud-Din Kenu, Director, Industries & Commerce Department, Mr. B. S. Dua, Managing Director, SICOP Mr. R. K. Razdan, President, FCIK Mr. Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, President, Jammu CCI, Mr. Y. V. Sharma, President, KCCI Mr. Abdul Hamid Punjabi , President , Association of Small Scale Industries, Gangyal Jammu and representative of MSME.  

Div Com flags off Radio Taxi road show

            SRINAGAR, JULY 10: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr. Baseer Ahmad Khan today flagged off the Radio Taxi road show at Tankipora, Srinagar. The Divisional Commissioner personally monitored the show which started from DC Office, Srinagar, went through New Secretariat, Police Control Room, Bakshi Stadium and concluded at TRC, Nowgam.

            Divisional Commissioner also inspected the building at TRC where network of Radio Taxis is available. Divisional Commissioner assured all possible support to the Radio Taxi Operators. He was informed that 30 Taxis shall be brought available at the first instance in the Srinagar city.

            Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Samoon said that introducing Radio Taxis is a new concept of providing better transport facilities to the tourists as well as the people in need. He said Radio Taxi is only a Phone Call away from a user.

            Divisional Commissioner said that Radio Taxis are comfortable, air conditioned cars manned by a responsive and professional driver, linked by Radio to a Control Room so that its whereabouts are always tracked by controller in the Call Centre Office.

            He said, it is 24x7 services and is accessible on a single Central Number 0194-2432432. On receiving a call for pick up/drop, the Reservation Centre uses its GPRS screen to direct the nearest available Taxi to the client and informs him of the time the taxi is expected to take to reach him.

            Dr. Samoon said rates shall be calculated on kilometre basis, from pick up to drop off. He said Radio Taxis assures safety of passenger by the fact that Radio Cabs are constantly monitored at a Central Office and its drivers are not only trained but their identity is also verified before they are recruited.

            The Div Com said that Radio Taxis are cabs of international standard that will become increasingly visible on the streets and change the dynamics of travel.