Govt: 6000 transit houses approved

S. Shekhar

JAMMU: Even though the Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution for return of Kashmiri migrants to their ancestral homes in the Kashmir valley, a sensational disclosure of the Government today about construction of transit accommodation for them in the Valley, may lead to further trouble as was being objected to by the separatists in Kashmir every now and then.
In a written reply to a question of BJP MLA, Rajesh Gupta, the Minister Incharge, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Basharat Bukhari informed the House that the Government of India has conveyed approval for construction of 6000 Transit Accommodations in Kashmir valley for allotment to the Kashmiri migrants, to whom State Government jobs have been provided / will be provided.
He also informed that in this regard, the concerned Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir valley have identified 723 kanal, 03 marlas with tentative cost of land amounting to Rs. 374.65 Crore.
It may be recalled here that the issue of creation of separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandit migrants in Kashmir valley rocked the Assembly last year, when the Opposition members, mainly from National Conference lodged strong resentment over this and after several days of commotion, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti denied any such proposal.
The Minister further disclosed that Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, has also conveyed approval for the creation of 3000 additional posts for Kashmiri migrant youth with funding from Government of India and the proposal is under active consideration of the department.