The Steering Committee of Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruc-tion Authority (Erra) on Thursday approved different projects worth rupees one billion for Muzaffarabad city. A meeting to oversee progress on Urban Development projects in Azad Kashmir was held at Erra Headquarters with Erra Deputy Chairman Lieutenant General Sardar Mahmood Khan in the chair.
The meeting approved reconstruction of 600-metre Tali Mandi Road and flood protection wall alongside Neelum River, water supply scheme, and Tariqabad bypass Road to Langar Airport. The committee also approved Nauman Pura Bridge approximately costing over 300 million for Bagh, Sabir Shaeed Stadium for Rawalakot.
General Mahmood Khan said the government of Pakistan had allocated over Rs 8,000 million for urban development, besides housing, health and education and Erra stood by the people of AJK. Brigadier Zafar Walha, DG Planning Erra, giving a detailed overview of the ongoing projects in the worst-hit area of 2005 earthquake, said the urban development programme was currently focusing on 62 projects with reconstruction of Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot which was top priority of the Authority. Out of these, Sabir Shaheed Boys High School has been completed and handed over to the government of AJK, while 20 projects are nearly 40 percent completed.
Seven projects, he said, would be started in coming week, while 28 projects were to be launched in May this year. Reconstruction on Shopping Plaza, Mera Tanolian, Bararkot Road and water supply schemes in all three cities is full in swing. The Deputy Chairman highly appreciated the support extended by the government of AJK, adding that it was due to commitment and resolve of the governments of Pakistan and AJK that Erra had made speedy progress in reconstruction of three cities.
Paying special emphasis on the educational institutions and access to knowledge, he instructed to build the public library on lines of international standards so that students, faculty and researchers could have online access to books which would open up avenues of research in the areas, he added.
He also emphasised to incorporate the concept of rehabilitation into all reconstruction projects for the long-term benefits leading to community's welfare and better socio-economic conditions. He said though Erra had performed extremely well keeping in consideration the weather and terrain limitations, however, changing the scenario to open economic growth, catering for best health system and educational facilities in the area.
The federal government is committed to reconstruct and rehabilitate the area in spite of the financial crunch in the country. The meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary AJK, Secretary Works AJK, Commissioner Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, DG Planning Erra Brigadier Zafar Walha, DG Erra and other officials from Erra and AJK.