Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday inaugurated 1,416 residential flats for employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PM Package) at three locations in Kashmir, describing the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families to the Valley as essential for restoring its historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Lieutenant Governor inaugurated the newly constructed Transit Residential Complex at Zewan in Srinagar, while the residential complexes at Kakan Maran in Budgam and Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara were inaugurated through virtual mode.
Addressing the gathering at Zewan, Sinha said Kashmir was incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and that the region was deprived of a precious part of its soul in their absence.
“Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and it is deprived of a precious part of its soul. Dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families is a commitment to restoring the historical heritage and human dignity of the Kashmir Division,” he said.
He added that the natural, cultural and spiritual beauty of the region would attain completeness only when Kashmiri Pandit families returned to their homeland with respect, security and confidence.
The Lieutenant Governor said the inauguration of 1,416 flats across the three locations marked an important step towards improving the living conditions of employees appointed under the PM Package and advancing the vision of a dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families to the Valley.
He said every flat represented the aspirations, resilience and hopes of a family seeking a secure future in Kashmir.
Giving details of the project, Sinha said the transit accommodation initiative envisaged the construction of 6,000 flats across 342 blocks at 20 locations in 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.
The project was accelerated in 2020 in mission mode. Of the 6,000 sanctioned flats, more than 5,200 have been completed, while over 3,800 have already been allotted to eligible employees.
Among the three complexes inaugurated on Sunday, Zewan is the largest, comprising 936 flats spread across 39 blocks. All the flats in the complex have been allotted.
The residential complex at Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara comprises 288 flats across 18 blocks, while the Kakan Maran complex in Budgam has 192 flats spread across 12 blocks. Together, the three facilities account for 1,416 flats.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the concerned departments and executing agencies to ensure that all pending works were completed without delay. Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh, assured that the remaining flats under the project would be completed by December this year.
Emphasising the need to ensure proper maintenance and facilities at the residential complexes, Sinha said completion of the flats marked the beginning of a new responsibility for the administration.
He called for uninterrupted electricity and water supply, robust security arrangements, effective waste management and prompt grievance redressal to ensure that employees and their families could live in a safe and dignified environment.
The Lieutenant Governor also acknowledged the contribution of labourers, engineers and officials of the Public Works Department, along with the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, district administrations, J&K Police, security forces and agencies responsible for providing water and electricity infrastructure.
He also appreciated the services of employees working in the Valley under the PM Package Programme.
Highlighting the historical and civilisational contribution of Kashmiri Pandits, Sinha said Kashmir’s literary consciousness, spiritual heritage and cultural splendour could not be imagined without their contribution.
He said the return of Kashmiri Pandit families was not merely a matter of residential accommodation but was linked to restoring their place in the Valley’s social and cultural fabric.
Among those present at the inauguration were Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh; Commissioner Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department, M. Raju; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg; IGP Kashmir Sujit Singh; SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani, besides senior officials, prominent citizens and PM Package employees.
