Poonch, Nov 21 (KNO): Asserting that Poonch has faced the brunt of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for decades, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the government is committed to rehabilitate the families that were affected due to recent natural calamities and unprovoked Pakistani shelling in May this year.
LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) visited Poonch today and laid the foundation stone for construction of new houses for families affected due to recent natural calamities and unprovoked Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor, in Poonch and Rajouri Districts.
Addressing a gathering the Lieutenant Governor said, “The entire country looks at Poonch as an inspiration for its resilience and unwavering spirit in the face of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and repeated ceasefire violations.”
He said, “One hundred and thirty-three houses in Poonch and 388 in Rajouri that were completely damaged will be built free of cost with the help of High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India).”
LG Sinha recalled his visit to the families affected by Pakistani shelling in May this year. “Poonch faced the brunt of Pakistan-shelling. I pay rich tributes to the 14 civilians who lost their lives in May and salute their scarifices.”
LG Sinha said, “No financial help can compensate for the loss of precious human lives, but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we have tried our best to support the victims.”
He reaffirmed GoI’s commitment towards complete rehabilitation of affected families and to improve the life of every resident of Poonch and Rajouri.
“Earlier, ex-gratia relief and employment to Next of Kins (NoKs) of the deceased were provided and compensation paid to the families affected by flash floods and Pakistani shelling in both the districts. Under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) and Central Schemes relief of more than Rs. 10 Cr was already provided to other house owners in Poonch. It is being ensured that not a single family is deprived of their rights and fundamental needs,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The LG said the government has provided jobs to the next of kin of deceased civilians, in addition to monetary assistance. Injured persons have also been extended financial relief.
LG Sinha noted that a natural calamity that struck Poonch shortly after the shelling further compounded the hardships of local residents.
To ensure dignified rehabilitation, the government has approved the construction of 1,500 new houses for affected families—1,250 in the Jammu region and 250 in Kashmir. “This is not a fixed number. As many houses as needed will be built. A total of ₹13.80 crore will be spent on constructing these smart, three-bedroom houses, with a deadline of six months,” the LG said.
“These new three-bedroom prefabricated Smart Houses are designed to help families quickly get their lives back on track,” he said. “These houses will have specific facilities such as cowsheds. The maintenance for the next 5 years will be done by HRDS India. In the second phase, solar panels will also be installed in these houses. The houses being constructed at Poonch and Rajouri will cost around Rs.51 Crore, which will be borne by the HRDS India.”
The Lieutenant Governor directed the district administration for inclusion of the genuine beneficiaries. He said that there is no cap on the number of houses to be built.
“This project is specifically designed for those who are economically weak. Their welfare is the greatest service,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said, “The people of Poonch and Rajouri faced neglect for decades and suffered from terrorism perpetrated by the neighbouring country. Today, a new ray of development has replaced that dark phase, and false promises. For the first time since independence, the people of these two districts are reaping the benefits of the development they have been entitled to. I assure that this process will continue unabated,”
Reiterating the government’s commitment to border security, LG Sinha said, “Over the past few years, 1,125 bunkers have been completed in Poonch and a proposal to build 5,693 additional bunkers has been submitted for approval. In Rajouri, 2,923 bunkers were constructed in five years, providing relief to a large population living along the border.”
“We are fully aware of the designs of the enemy. Safety of our border population is a top priority,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that 19 NoKs of terror affected families in Rajouri and 9 in Poonch were provided with government jobs.
He also instructed the District and Police Administration to identify the left-out terror victim families and forward their job-appointment related cases to the Government Administration Department.
Highlighting the development push in Poonch and Rajouri, the LG said the region had suffered decades of neglect in road connectivity and higher education. “There was no major higher education campus in Poonch, but now the Jammu University Institute of Science and Technology is coming up. Road infrastructure has also seen transformative change. With Rs 173 crore funding from NABARD, 29 road projects and 9 bridges have been completed in recent years,” he said.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), several houses have also been constructed for deserving families, the LG added.
Calling the upcoming National Highway and tunnel projects “game changers,” LG Sinha said they will redefine Poonch’s socio-economic landscape. He also noted that several government higher secondary schools had been upgraded, giving a major boost to the education sector.
“Progress of Poonch has always been a priority for the government. Despite challenges, the people of this region have displayed unmatched courage, and the nation salutes them,” he said.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Tejinder Singh, DIG Rajouri Poonch Range; Abhishek Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri; Ashok Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch; Krishnakumar S. Devan, CEO, HRDS India, Ravinder Raina, former MLA and senior BJP Leader; senior officials of police and civil administration, prominent citizens and people from all walks of life attended the foundation laying ceremony—(KNO)