STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Before starting work on the prestigious AIIMS at Vijaypur, Jammu and Kashmir Government is focusing all its energies towards rehabilitating 204 nomadic families who are currently occupying portion of the forest land shortlisted for the project.
According to official sources, “The state government has sanctioned Rs 4.63 crores and identified 150 kanals of land in Rakh Barotian to rehabilitate these nomadic families”.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal, who visited the project site recently along with Deputy Commissioner Samba Sheetal Nanda besides other revenue authorities and police officers directed the concerned agencies to expedite work on the rehabilitation of these nomadic families before acquiring the land meant for AIIMS.
According to local revenue authorities, till the time these nomadic families can be rehabilitated work on the AIIMS project cannot be initiated as these families continue to occupy major portion of the land.
During brief inspection, directions were passed to provide necessary infrastructure including strengthening of embankment from the railway track to the proposed site of colony for these nomadic families.
Representatives of the Guujar Dodhi Association were also present on the spot when Divisional commissioner visited the project site.
Earlier, the work on the project was delayed as the government had failed to release the amount to kick start the rehabilitation of nomadic families.
According to revenue records, land measuring 1951 kanals and 3 marlas have been finalised for establishment of AIIMS at Vijaypur.
According to official sources, for transfer of land measuring 293 kanals and 13 Marlas, the matter was taken up with the State Revenue Department for its transfer in favour of Health and Medical Education Department.
The demand of Rs 6.61 crore was also projected with Planning Department for transfer of forest land measuring 1395 kanals and 17 Marlas in favour of Health and Medical Education Department to begin work on the project. AIIMS was sanctioned for Jammu by the Centre at the end of long struggle and indefinite strike by the AIIMS Coordination Committee in August 2015.
