KL Desk
Srinagar
Minister of State for I&C, Home, R&B & Tourism, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo Sunday called on Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and apprised them about issues of vital importance concerning the development of the state.
During his meeting with Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Minister apprised the Union Minister about additional Air Force sorties to far-flung areas of Kargil, Marwah and Dacchan so that stranded passengers are safely air-lifted to their respective destinations. He apprised the Minister about prioritizing work on Singhpora-Vailo tunnel for which he met Chief Engineer BEACON earlier this week. The tunnel will connect Kashmir Valley with district Kishtwar and bring in circular connectivity between Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
Kichloo also briefed the Minister about taking up the issue of installation of crash barriers on Kishtwar-Batote road to reduce the number of road accidents that have risen alarmingly over the last few years and consumed several precious lives.
The Minister also requested the Union Minister for allocating 10,000 solar lights in remote villages in district Kishtwar. This, the Minister said, will bring relief to people residing in inaccessible areas which are still not power-connected.
On the issue of augmenting road and tunnel connectivity in the state, Dr. Abdullah assured the Minister that he will take up the matter with Union Surface Transport Ministry so that BEACON and GREF works in the state are fast-tracked. He also assured the state Minister of all help in New & Renewable Energy sector which is under his charge.
In a separate meeting with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kichloo apprised him about the status of health sector in the state, especially district Kishtwar. He sought expansion of health facilities and infrastructure under Central Financial Assistance. The Minister requested for sanctioning a 100-bedded maternity hospital under CFA in the newly-created district of Kishtwar. This, he said, will result in prevention of fatalities when expectant mothers are shifted to other districts in cases of emergency.
The Minister also requested Azad for setting up a Trauma hospital on Batote-Kishtwar road which will facilitate immediate medical treatment to injured patients in cases of accidents, which have occurred frequently in erstwhile Doda district over the last few years.
The Union Minister also assured Kichloo of all help in augmenting health services in J&K. He also expressed his commitment to take up issues of road and tunnel connectivity in the state with the Union Surface Transport Ministry.
