STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday arrived here as part of his three-day tour to the Union territory, officials said.
They said Shah arrived at the Srinagar airport from the Jammu region at around 7 pm.
The Union home minister set off the three-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. He met several delegations on Monday, and on Tuesday, he visited Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at Katra and addressed a public rally in Rajouri.
On the Shah’s Kashmir itinerary is a public rally in Baramulla on Wednesday and a security review meeting, the officials said.
They said the focus of the meeting will be on tackling the attacks on the non-locals in the Kashmir valley.
The launch and foundation laying of various development projects in Srinagar is also on Shah’s list, the officials said, adding he will then return to Delhi the same evening.
List of projects for Union Home Minister
- Events under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission
(UMEED)/SHGs. - Swachh Bharat Mission.
- Activities under Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan.
- Activation of Drug De-Addiction Centres.
- Release of J&K SDG Report 2022.
- Home Department
Laying of e-foundation stone of Women Battalion, Sopore. - Jal Shakti Department
i) Construction of hydraulic gates at the entry/exit point of Hokersar Wetland of flood spill channel: Rs. 28.45crore (For laying of foundation stone)
ii). 15 Water Supply Schemes in Kashmir Division under Jal Jeevan Mission worth Rs. 107.45 crore (For laying of foundation stone) - Housing and Urban Development Department
- 11 Urban Development Projects for inauguration in Kashmir Division worth Rs. 18.53 crore
- Public Works Department
- Inaugurations
i. 74 roads with length of 434.37 kms worth Rs. 442.58 crore.
ii. 7 bridges worth Rs. 23.40 crore.
iii. 1 building worth Rs. 4.97 crore. - Foundation Stones
i. 94 roads with length of 580.92 kms worth Rs. 511.66 crore.
ii. 1 building worth Rs. 13.78 crore. - Power Development Department.
i) 20 No Projects worth Rs 200.14 Cr are ready for Inauguration.
ii). Foundation stone of 7 projects worth Rs 367.67 Cr to be laid - Health and Medical Education Department
i) Inauguration of IPD Block, SDH, Bijbehara, at an estimated cost of Rs. 14.47 crore.
ii).Inauguration of OPD-cum-Administration Block/Staff Quarters at SDH, Dooru, at an estimated cost of Rs. 12.79 crore.
iii) Foundation Stone of new building for Sub-District Hospital at Hazratbal, Srinagar, at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.99 crore. - Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department
Total 24 martyr families have received jobs. 20 NoKs have already got it, four are likely to get today.
Security has been tightened in the valley for the Shah’s visit. The officials said multi-tier security has been put in place and drones are being used for aerial surveillance as well.
The checking on Srinagar-Baramulla highway has been intensified, while additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to keep a close watch on the situation, they said.
Patrolling has been intensified at many places, especially on the Srinagar-Baramulla-Kupwara highway, the officials added.
The rally venue has been turned into a fortress, they said.
The BJP has said Shah’s Baramulla rally will be historic. “This will be the biggest rally in the history of north Kashmir,” BJP’s J-K unit president Ravinder Raina said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met more than a dozen delegations on the second day of his three-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
The delegations called upon Shah at Raj Bhavan here earlier in the evening.
The delegations included representatives of traders, fruit growers’ associations, tourism bodies, political parties, social activists, hoteliers, Sanjay Saraf of Lok Janshakti Party, and members of transport association, sources said.
People met Shah and informed him about various problems they are facing.
A joint delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) also met the Union minister and submitted a memorandum demanding the formation of the committee to revive businesses in the region, the sources said.
The delegation also raised the issue of the frequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
An Apni Party delegation led by its president Altaf Bukhari also met Shah.
The Bukhari-led delegation presented a list of demands including the restoration of statehood and holding of assembly elections at the earliest.
It also demanded a transparent and fast recruitment, release of youths currently in jails, resolution of problems faced by fruit growers of the Kashmir valley, completion of pending projects, and raising of additional special battalions, particularly in border regions to create job opportunities, and stop youths from getting misguided.
Meanwhile, the train service between Baramulla and Budgam section will remain suspended on Wednesday in view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s public rally in north Kashmir, officials said.
The train operations on Budgam-Baramulla stretch of the Baramulla-Banihal railway line will remain suspended on October 5, the officials said.
They said the suspension was ordered in connection with the VVIP visit to Baramulla and in view of the present security scenario.