J&K starts new road projects

The Jammu and Kashmir government has launched a programme to provide basic amenities and upgrade road communication facilities for people living in far-flung and backward areas, Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar said today.

As part of this programme, six major road projects in the Noorabad area are being taken up at a cost of Rs six crore during the current fiscal year, Zargar told reporters during a function at Kulgam in Anantnag district.

He said these projects include Koreal-Mirwani, Kounsarbal-Yarikah-Gojarpora, Manzgam-Hallan and Laamar-Patihalan.

In addition, Rs 800,000 is being spent on works of immediate public need in Noorabad on the directions of PDP President and MP Mehbooba Mufti.

"These include two-foot bridges between Gasrin and Kulgam over the Vishoo river and a public recreational park in Dargund village," he said.

The function was held to distribute relief cheques amounting to about Rs 10,00,000 among poor villagers under the Indira Awas Yojana and the National Family Benefit Scheme. Zargar distributed cheques among 64 homeless families and 20 widows.

He said about 100 more widows will be brought under the National Family Benefit Scheme during the current year while about 164 families living below the poverty line have been provided cash assistance under the Indira Awas Yojana for construction of shelters.

He said 550 homeless families of Noorabad constituency have been brought under the programme during the past three years.