Housing,health,education need to be under ambit of EFPs:J&K CM

Emphasising on timely completion of the ongoing state projects, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed today stressed upon the requirement of bringing vital sectors like housing, health and education within ambit of EFPs (Externally-Funded Projects).
Chairing a review meeting here, Sayeed also called for strategising a plan that holds contractors accountable to deliver the projects within the stipulated time-frame and ensures that EFPs (Externally-Funded Projects) by Asian Development Bank (ADB) do not spill-over to the State Plan.
The ADB has fixed March 31, 2017 timeline to complete the projects.
Sayeed said the expanding the scope of institutional finance by ADB and focusing on other international financing agencies will enable the government to source money in housing, education and health sectors as well.

He cited the case of Dal dwellers who are being relocated in Rakh-e-Arth, Bemina, for which a project can be conceived under housing sector that can be taken up for execution under EFPs.
The rehabilitation of Dal dwellers is not part of the Dal Conservation Plan and is largely funded through State Plan and BSUP (Basic Services for Urban Poor), a component of centrally-sponsored scheme AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation).

Highlighting the criticality of executing these ADB-funded projects within the stipulated timelines, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu apprised the Chief Minister that failure to do so will make it very difficult for the state to allocate funds for completion of such projects as its resources are limited.

Nine spilled-over projects of ADB Loan under tranche-I are being funded through State Plan. These projects include construction of overhead and sedimentation tanks, replacement of worn out pipes, widening and up-gradation of roads and construction of bridges.
While reviewing progress on various ongoing projects, Sayeed ordered revisiting the multi-tier parking at old KMD Bus Stand at Lal Chowk, which has a carrying capacity for only 288 vehicles, whereas the realistic requirement is far beyond what has been conceived.