Minister of state for Housing & Urban Development, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, Monday chaired a series of meetings to review the progress of various developmental schemes with the Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Public Health Enterprise, UDAK, Department of Handicrafts and Women Development Corporation.

In her meeting with the I&FC, the Minister sought details of status of flood management works, de-silting of canals and nallahs extension of lift irrigation and anti-encroachment drives around nallahs in Srinagar.

She called for expanding the de-silting work in Padshhi, Gasu, Wangun among other canals in Srinagar. She also directed for immediate submission of DPRs to the Planning Department so that developmental works in the city gets a boost.

While calling for revamping of old water supply pipes in Srinagar, the Minister directed the officials of the PHE Department to extend water supply to unattended areas of the district. She also reviewed the status of Tangnar, Sukhnag and Khimber Water Supply Schemes.

The meeting was informed that post-floods revamping of water pipes includes a Rs 90-crore project given to ERA whereas allocations for improvement and extension of water supply have been made for all constituencies of the Srinagar, including the Hazratbal Constituency, where an amount of Rs 30 lakh will be spent for the purpose during the current fiscal. It was informed that DPRs for extension and improvements have been made and will be submitted soon.

It was given out that besides Kimber, the Sukhnag and Tangnar Water Supply Schemes are at final stages of completion.

During the meeting, Asiea also authorized the Department to go for tendering for projects under AMRUT.

In the meeting with the UDAK, the Minister was informed that

Action Plan worth Rs. 38 crore has been sent to GOI for approval. The programme includes various components including skill development training, self-employment, self-help groups for women, support for urban street vendors and shelter for urban houseless.

For self-employment, it was informed, a loan amount of Rs 2 lakh rupees with 7% interest subsidy is given to beneficiaries under the component. The Minister was informed that out of 1000 cases in the State, 792 such cases, including 248 in Srinagar, have been disbursed during 2016-17. The Minister asked the concerned to ensure subsidies are paid without any delay and that transparency and accountability are maintained at all levels during the process of selection of trainees as well as loan cases.

The Social Welfare Minister during the meeting with officials of the Handicrafts Department stressed that focus of the Department should be on the protection of artisans and in this regard Department needs to facilitate their livelihood by implementing artisan friendly schemes.

The Minister, who is also represents the Hazratbal Constituency, directed the concerned Department to chalk out a framework to set up a cluster center in line with the needs of artisans. She also said that a modern craft center would be set up at Rainawari for which Rs 25 lakh have been released to the concerned executing agency.

She was informed that the Department has disbursed 1466 handicraft loans, including 849 to Hazratbal artisans for carpet looms.

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