Govt to expedite forest clearance for speedy road construction: Deputy Chief Minister
Says ‘Centre to fund 90% of PMGSY IV projects in J&K’
04/02/2026
Jammu, February 04 (KIP)-Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that the government will expedite the forest clearance for speedy execution of road projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the cases shall be taken up with the concerned agencies for hassle-free work execution on the road network projects.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the cost-sharing pattern for PMGSY IV construction in J&K is 90 percent funded by the Centre and 10 percent by the Union Territory.
This information was given by the Deputy Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly while replying to a question raised by Legislator Payare Lal Sharma.
Regarding land compensation on account of road construction under PMGSY IV, he informed that the UT government is responsible for providing hindrance-free and encumbrance-free land for PMGSY-IV projects, including compensation for land acquisition.
The supplementary questions were raised by Legislators Nazir Ahmad Khan and Balwant Singh Mankotia on the subject.
Regular market inspections, rice sampling being conducted across J&K to check adulteration: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that regular market inspections and sampling of rice is being conducted by the Health department across Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar, to check sale of adulterated rice.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to a question raised by Legislator Shamim Firdous regarding ‘Adultered Rice’ in the House.
The Minister said that during the financial year 2025-26, 121 rice samples had been lifted and sent to NABL accredited food testing laboratories for analysis. Of which, 110 test reports have been received, so far. She informed that seven samples were reported as ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)’ and cases have been filed in the competent courts in terms of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Minister said that the department is conducting regular market inspections and sampling of rice under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar. She also informed the House that out of 7 NSQ samples, 3 have been found with Folic Acid content less than prescribed standards under FSSA, while 4 have been found with Chalky kernels exceeding the prescribed limits under FSSA.
No enquiry ordered in 4th Tawi Bridge construction: Deputy Chief Minister
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that as per the reports of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Chief Engineer Public (R&B) Department Zone, Jammu and Managing Director, JKPCC Limited, no enquiry has been ordered against the Executing Agency responsible for construction of 4th Tawi Bridge.
This information was given by the Deputy Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly while replying to a question raised by Sham Lal Sharma.
He stated that the recent floods in Jammu damaged the bridge's approaches but the bridge itself remained intact.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that as per the inputs furnished by the Managing Director, JKPCC, the 4th Tawi Bridge project was awarded to JKPCC in 2010, with an estimated cost of ₹93.12 crore. The project was approved and JKPCC floated an e-tender, which got matured.
The Deputy CM added that consequent upon the decision of the Contract Committee and subsequent approval of Chairman JKPCC Limited, the allotment was made to the lowest bidder, M/S S.P Shingla Construction Private Limited, for an amount of Rs 67.088 crore on turnkey basis. He further informed that the said contractor took up the work and completed the bridge in time, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister in the year 2013 and thrown open for public traffic.
The Deputy CM added that after commissioning of the said bridge and during the heavy floods which occurred in 2014, the bridge components remained intact and no part of the bridge was damaged.