Puri assures J&K of support in urban sector

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday assured the government and people of Jammu and Kashmir of priority consideration and all possible assistance in all matters of urban development.

The assurance came here at a meeting between Puri and state Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, where they discussed progress and implementation of various projects of urban sector.

During the meeting, Nirmal Singh sought help in River Front Development along a 4.50 km stretch of Tawi River along the lines of Sabarmati River Front Development, completion of sewerage project of Greater Jammu sanctioned under the JNNURM earlier, inclusion of Katra and Udhamput under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for basic infrastructure development.

He told Puri that the sewerage project of Srinagar, sanctioned under JNNURM is progressing with additional central assistance released by the government.

According to an official release, Puri directed the officials concerned in his ministry to have the River Front Development proposal under the Smart City Plan of Jammu.

"After further consultations with the state government on mobilization of resources for the sewerage project in Jammu including its financing under the ongoing urban missions, NBCC will be directed to resume the project works," he assured.

On the inclusion of two more cities under AMRUT, Puri said 500 cities have been included in this mission based on certain criteria and he will have the possibility in this regard considered.

Referring to details of various projects sanctioned and investments approved for Jammu and Kashmir under various new urban missions, he urged the Deputy Chief Minister to speed up their implementation so that the intended outcomes were realized within the specified timeframes.

He also referred to providing new water supply connections to 1.08 lakh households in the state under the Atal Mission.