The Jammu & Kashmir Government has demanded a Rs607.77-crore special package from the Centre for the rehabilitation of the affected people and for restoration of public infrastructure in quake-hit districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
The State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Tuesday, formally accorded sanction to the submission of memorandum for grant of special package worth Rs607.77 crore.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had previously projected a demand of Rs 400-450 crore during his brief meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi on Saturday. The Prime Minister had also assured him all possible help for the quake-affected region of the Jammu division.
In the recent weeks, the State Government machinery had worked laboriously on ground zero in order to prepare a comprehensive report with details of damages suffered by various structures in land-locked districts of Doda region due to earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale on May 1.
Around 700 Government school buildings, 300 primary and community health centre buildings suffered damages during the quake in Doda and Kishtwar district, official sources said.
According to the assessment report, around 47,000 houses have been damaged in Doda which included 678 fully, 10,255 severely and 29,317 partially damaged ones. In Kishtwar, about 100 houses have been fully damaged while 2,815 were severely damaged and about 19,000 were partially damaged. In addition, several water supply schemes, roads and building infrastructure suffered
Meanwhile, the State Cabinet also accorded sanction to the establishment of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation (JKMSC) for the purpose of purchase of drugs, instruments and disposables, and other equipment required in the healthcare institutions. The Corporation would achieve the objective of economising the purchases; facilitate procurement of quality and standard drugs and put in place foolproof drug testing mechanism.
The Cabinet also approved expansion of quality engineering education at degree level, strictly as per the norms prescribed by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), Government of India and subject to the approval by the AICTE and ‘no objection’ from the Higher Education Department of Jammu & Kashmir Government.