State of the art search and rescue equipments are being procured for strengthening of Disaster Management Operations in J&K State under World Bank funded JTFRP Project. This was informed by Dr. Raghav Langer, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency/JTFRP in a meeting chaired by V.K Singh Director General SDRF, HG, CD and Fire and Emergency Services. The meeting was also attended Aamir Ali Director Disaster Management and Tasawuf Amin Director Finance JTFRP

These rescue Equipments are being procured under Component 5 of JTFRP which includes procurement of rescue equipments for State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services. 30 boats have already been procured for SDRF and process for procuring 28 boats has been completed. The equipments for SDRF includes Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Equipments (CSSR) and water rescue equipments such as Electric Angle Cutter, Regulator Gas Cutter, Electric Circular Saw etc, 5 snow cutting machines, 16 rescue vehicles, 22 lighting towers and generators. The equipments for Fire and Emergency Services includes 17 multipurpose fire tenders, 9 regular fire tenders, 17 medium quick response vehicles, hydraulic spreaders, cutters, combi tools, ramps, hydraulic jacks, fire entry suits, fire proximity suits, breathing apparatus, water gel blankets, under water cameras, floating pumps and portable dewatering pumps. The equipments are being procured at an approximate cost of Rs. 40 crores. The process of procuring is at different stages of completion. CEO ERA/JTFRP apprised that to handle these high end equipments specialized training can be imparted that can be in house or external.

Dr. Langer informed that the equipments are being procured under JTFRP Project and will strengthen the capabilities of SDRF Fire & Emergency Services in conduct of rescue operations in case of any calamities like earthquakes, landslides, floods etc. Further, the team also inspected the rescue equipments available with SDRF at their Battalion Headquarters at Gandhi Nagar. Commandant SDRF Rashmi Wazir, Staff Officer with Commandant General Mohammed Shabir and other officers were also present during the inspection. The staff demonstrated the functioning and uses of various rescue equipments that includes Bamboo Raft, Multi Purpose Rope, Inflatable Rubber Boat, Fire Entry Suit, Water Mist, Diving Suit, Reciprocating and Carbide Chain Saw.

This was stated to Dr. Raghav Langer Chief Executive Officer J&KERA / JTFRP during his visit to the said handicraft clusters here today. The project has been taken up under restoration and strengthening of livelihood component of the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project and Department of Industries and Commerce is the Project Implementation Unit for the component. CEO ERA / JTFRP was informed by officials of Handicraft Department that so far comprehensive skill assessment of the artisans skilled in the traditional crafts of Embroidery (crewel, chain-stitch) and Papier Machie has been done and artisan have been categorized according to their level of skill by the consultants who have been engaged for the purpose and now the focus is being given on the upgradation of the skills of the artisans and for which recently a workshop was organized for the artisans wherein they were imparted latest trainings on product design and color schemes to be adopted while designing a product. It will be followed by providing artisans with improved market linkages with assured supply order worth Rs 3 crores for each provide them with platforms to participate and exhibit their crafts in major exhibitions. The creation of artisan database and creation civil infrastructure in the said handicrafts clusters areas is also included in the overall project.

Later CEO ERA / JTFRP also visited Solina Silk Factory wherein Officer was shown various sections of the Filature which has been established way back in 1939. A consultancy services for preserving the heritage value of the unit its landscaping and exploring opportunities for setting up of the Haat in the premises is also being carried out under the said project.

Ghulam Qadir, General Manager, Joinery Mill , Pampore , Nodal Officers of JTFRP/ handicrafts department accompanied CEO ERA/JTFRP during the visit.

Dr. Raghav Langer , Chief Executive Officer has stressed that any further delay on part of the contracting agency will not be tolerated and shall be dealt with severely. The construction agency has been directed to strictly adhere to the timelines given for the completion of the project. CEO, ERA has directed the contractor to ensure that the 2nd phase of the mega project from Rambagh to Aloochi Bagh is completed by 31st , Dec, 2018 while as 3rd phase from Allochi –Bagh to Jehangir Chowk be completed structurally by 15th March , 2019 with black topping to be completed by 15th, May, 2019.

Dr. Raghav said that any dilly-dallying tactics on part of the contracting agency shall lead to further penalization in accordance with the contract clauses and black listing of the construction agency. He added that work on the construction of grade separator at TRC, Srinagar has also been put on the watch list and performance of the construction agency is being closely scrutinized and similar penal action would follow if the work on project is not expedited and timelines given to the contractor are not met.

During the meeting it was proposed that two pronged approach needs to be adopted for the purpose by initially setting up the Emergency Operations Centre on Cloud based platform which will later on be further strengthened by setting up of (2) physical Emergency Operations centre at Srinagar and Jammu and subsequently by setting up of EOC’s at all the district levels. However the Cloud based EOC will continue to support the physically established EOC;s and will also serve as backup in case of emergencies’. The proposed EOC will be equipped with the all the necessary equipments like Desktop computers, printers and manned by disaster management and I.T professionals. The EOC’s will operate on the basis of customized software that will have important emergency response features like organizational registry, tracing the missing persons, tracking the displaced families, shelter tracking, volunteer management etc.

CEO, ERA directed the concerned officers to obtain the list of registered hardware / software vendors from the department of I.T and also directed the Disaster Risk Assessment consultancy of JTFRP to come up with detailed costing for the project and also prepare the further road map for the project at an earliest.

The meeting was also attended by Iftikhar Hakim, Director Planning and Coordination, JTFRP, Khalid Iqbal, Director Technical, JTFRP, Aamir Ali, Director Disaster Management and other officers’ of JTFRP and ERA

Giving out details about the progress of Public Works component of the project it was informed by the nodal officer, PWD, Kashmir that the component involves the sub-components of Health, Higher Education, High education and rehabilitation of (5) fire service stations. He said under the health sub-component Rs 89 crores have been earmarked for the construction of state of art 120 bed capacity additional block at Bones and Joints Hospital, Barzulla, Srinagar which will be equipped with the latest medical equipments, operation theatres, HVAC system, fire and maintenance and other latest facilities.. Under the Higher education sub-component Rs 34 crores have been allocated for the construction of additional blocks at Govt Degree College, Bemina, GDC Anantnag, GDC Bijbehara, Amar Singh College Srinagar and works worth Rs 23 crores have already been tendered. It was also said that under high education 53 schools are proposed to be constructed across the Kashmir valley for which an allocation of Rs 35 crores has been kept and tenders for construction of 7 schools have already been issued and tenders for remaining shall be issued by end of Nov, 2018.Further 8 Bridges are proposed to be constructed in Kashmir for which an allocation of Rs 70 crores has been kept and tenders for two bridges have already been floated. Similarly 12 road projects having an approximate length of 117 Kms are proposed to be constructed in Kashmir Division.

Sudhir Shah Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu while giving out details about Jammu division said that 24 school buildings are proposed to be constructed in Jammu division for which an allocation of Rs 15 crores has been kept and tendering process for these will be completed by 15th, Nov, 2018.He further said that 17 road projects having a cumulative length of 176 kms are also proposed to be taken up.

CEO, ERA directed the officers present in the meeting to expedite the process of preparation of due diligence documents so that works are tendered out and executed on ground at an earliest. He also directed that due care be taken of the architectural and heritage aspects while preparing designs for projects like construction of additional blocks at Amar Singh College so that the newly constructed blocks merge aesthetically with the existing buildings in the campus. It was further directed that EOI (Expression of Interest) for assessment of structural stability and detailed design for retrofitting of (5) fire stations in Kashmir and some other structures be prepared and issued at an earliest.

Meeting was also attended by Sami Arif, Chief Engineer,R&B Kashmir, Iftikhar Ahmad Hakeem Director Planning and Coordination JTFRP, Khalid Iqbal Director Technical, JTFRP, Ajaz Ahmad Bukhari, Executive Engineer, division 2nd ,Nodal officers of Bone and Joint Hospital, L.D Hospital among others

The team upon its arrival in Srinagar attended the meeting at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar which was held under the chairmanship of Shri Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Department who apprised the visiting team about the progress achieved on Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery .Dr. Raghav Langer, Chief Executive Officer, JKERA also attended the meeting.

Later in the day Dr. Raghav Langer chaired the meetings wherein the visiting team was apprised about the progress achieved on Urban Flood Management and Restoration and Strengthening of livelihood components of the JTFRP. The meetings were also attended by Peerzada Hafizullah, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Javid Iqbal, Managing Director, J&K Industries and Commerce department which form the project implementation units of JTFRP along with the Public Works Department. The meetings were also attended by other senior officers of JTFRP unit of ERA.

J&K ERA has achieved 97% physical progress on the Rawalpora- Chanapora mega storm water drainage project which is being constructed by J&K ERA with cost of Rs 165 crores under its Asian Development Bank funded JKUSDIP (Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme).

This was informed to Dr. Raghav Langer, CEO, ERA during his visit to the site. Zulfiqar Beigh, Project Manager, Hydraulic , JKERA said that the project will benefit the catchment area of 284.75 hectares along the National highway byepass which include localities from Rangreth to Chanapora bridge and will benefit around 60,000 souls living in the localities. He said work on civil components of laying of main and sub-main drainage network has already been completed as well as construction of (03) main pumping stations along with the installation of electromechanical components which are equipped with submersible pumps each having discharge capacity of 25 cusecs, 40 cusecs and 37 cusecs respectively which can work even in inundated conditions. These include one at Afandi bagh for zone I of the catchment area and main pumping stations at Madina Enclave for zone II and third MPS at Alamdar colony for zone III of the catchment while as work on one IPS (Intermediate pumping station) near check yayil near which is required for zone III of the project couldn’t be taken up so far due to some land acquisition issues.

CEO, ERA directed the concerned officers to immediately submit the formal proposal regarding the land acquisition issue involved in the construction of intermediate pumping station so that the issue is taken up with the concerned quarters for its resolution. CEO, ERA also directed consultants to prepare the proposal for automation of the storm water drainage projects completed by ERA through SCADA system so far so that same may be proposed in the forthcoming JKIDP (Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Project) funded by Asian Development Bank.

During inspection of work on Jehangir –Chowk –Rambagh flyover project . Showkat Wani , Director Kashmir , JKERA informed that under phase-I of the project etween comprising of Amar Singh college to Barzulla Bridge has already been completed in May , 2018 and one way traffic on the stretch is plying which has decongested the traffic on the said road stretch underneath to a great extent and presently work on 2nd phase of the project between Rambagh to Allochi-Bagh stretch has been further accelerated and more than 80% physical progress has been achieved. CEO ERA directed contractor to ensure that phase –II of the project is completed and made motarable by 31st Dec, 2018.While giving out details about 3rd- phase of the project between Amar Singh College to Jehangir Chowk it was informed that as on date 50% progress has been achieved and structural component of the phase is expected to be completed by March-2019.

Later CEO, ERA inspected progress of work on grade separator near TRC where he was informed that 60% physical progress has been achieved on the project as a whole and presently work on construction of ramps on Sonawar- Linz and JK Bank Corporate limbs are in full swing.CEO ERA directed contractor to mobilize additional man and machinery to ensure the completion of work by Dec, 2018 and March, 2019 respectively for both limbs.

It was also directed by CEO that concerned engineers and consultants of ERA will on daily basis monitor the progress of these works in case of laxity on part of the contractor penalty and other penal provisions in the clause shall be invoked . The CEO reiterated that these projects be completed as per the agree timelines as already excessive dealy has happened in the completion of these vital projects.

The concerned contractor for the flyover project raised the issue of diversion of traffic between Naaz Crossing to Jehangir Chowk for undertaking works in this stretch regarding which the CEO directed ERA officials to submit a detailed site plan within timelines so that the same can be taken up with IGP Traffic, Srinagar.

Besides Director Kashmir, JKERA, Sheikh Javed, Project Manager, Transport , J&K ERA. Team Leader, DSC and other officers of JKERA and consultants accompanied CEO ERA during the site visit

The Officer has wealth of experience in the area of infrastructure projects and has also served as Chief Executive Officer, PMGSY, Programme Director of Namami Gange, Project Director for World Bank funded Peri- Urban Water Supply Programme in Uttrakhand. On assuming the charge of Chief Executive Officer, JKERA, Dr Raghav was accorded a warm welcome by officers and staff of J&K ERA.

CEO. ERA was briefed about the organizational structure of JKERA. Later in the day CEO ERA was chaired a meeting wherein he was informed about physical and financial progress of various mega projects which are presently being executed by J&KERA under its ongoing Jammu Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). Meeting was also attended by Showkat Wani, Director, Kashmir, JKERA, Suresh Kaul, Director, Finance, JKERA, Zulfiqar Beigh Project Manager, Hydraulic, Kashmir, Javed Sheikh, Project Manager, Transport, Kashmir and other senior officers of JKERA

A meeting to chalk out modalities for introduction of mobile –app based “Bicycle Sharing” which is considered to be an eco-friendly and healthy solution to de-congest the traffic in most of cities globally was held here today under the chairmanship of Farooq Ahmad Lone, Chief Executive Officer, J&KERA/Srinagar Smart city Limited.

During the meeting which was attended by Anuj Malhotra , Traffic Advisor to Govt of J&K Abdul Majeed Raina,Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Riaz Ahmad Wani, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation , Satish Razdan, Director, ERA, Kashmir, and other senior officers of Traffic police and district administration it was informed that “Bicycle Sharing “ is being introduced in Srinagar city as a component of Srinagar Smart City Mission.

Experts in the field gave a detailed presentation on the concept of “bicycle sharing” and said that bicycle sharing operates through a mobile application which users are required to download on their mobile phones and enter the plate number displayed on each bicycle provided at the bicycle bay to receive the passcode to unlock the bicycle. On reaching the destination users would have to park the bicycle in the designated parking areas near their destination and lock the bicycle. The concept works on the economic principle of sharing of same resources at multiple times and aims at replacing the car with bicycle for urban mobility as doing same would pave way for traffic de-congestion, decreased levels of emission of harmful carbon dioxide and SO2 gases that are major contributors to air pollution besides promoting the healthy lifestyles amongst the city dwellers.

It was decided that a complete recce of the Srinagar city will be conducted by the officers of SMC, SDA,SSCL, along with the experts to work out the most feasible model to be taken up for implementation of the concept.