Srinagar, Jan 22 (KNO): The World Bank has extended the deadline for completion of Rs 1500 crore Jehlum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) in J&K Union Territory to December 31, 2024.
The latest implementation status and results report of the multi-crore project reveals that it’s closing date has been extended by 12 months until December 31, 2024.
The deadline was extended after the project implementing entity, Economic Reconstruction Agency, in its letter dated December 11, 2023, requested another 12-month extension to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry. DEA, in its letter dated December 12, 2023, has endorsed the request of the project implementing entity, and requested the World Bank to grant a further one-year extension.
This is the fifth extension to the project by the World Bank. Approved in 2015, the Project’s original closing date of June 30, 2020 has undergone four extensions, resulting in a cumulative extension period of 42 months.
After a very slow start during the PDP-BJP, the performance of the project incrementally improved after Syed Abid Rasheed Shah took over as head of the project implementing entity.
According to the World Bank, the Project has surpassed its agreed targets in some cases.
“JTFRP focuses on recovery and mitigating risks linked to floods in Jammu and Kashmir. The Project has largely achieved this and, in some cases, has surpassed the agreed targets,” reads the latest implementation status and results report of the project, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
The key achievements under the project include 45 school buildings, four higher education buildings, one fire station, 87.88 km of road stretches, four bridges, 75 km of drainage network, 33 storm-water drainage pumping stations and critical medical equipment and supplies to 36 hospitals—(KNO)