Parliamentary panel asks Centre to set timeline for construction of transit accommodations in Kashmir Valley

A parliamentary panel has recommended to the Union Home Ministry to set a timeline for the completion of construction of the remaining transit accommodations for migrants in Kashmir Valley and ensure that the deadlines are adhered to.

In its report tabled in the Parliament, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the department-related parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Home Affairs has said that it is disappointed to note that precious time of four year has passed just in deciding the issue of constructing transit homes at private or government lands. “The committee notes that only 1,025 units have been completed or substantially completed, while 1,488 units are still at various stages of completion. However, the status of the construction of the remaining 3,487 units is unclear. The committee is disappointed to note that precious time of four year has passed just in deciding the issue of constructing transit homes at private or government lands. Now that the issue has been decided, the committee, therefore, recommends that the MHA should set a timeline for the completion of construction of the remaining transit accommodations and ensure that the deadlines are adhered to,” reads the recommendations made by the panel after the government submitted an action taken report on its earlier observations.

Under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015 (PMDP-2015), 6000 transit accommodations have been approved to provide accommodation to Kashmiri migrant employees in the Valley.

In its action taken report, the government informed the committee that in the initial phase, the private land was to be acquired for the construction of these transit accommodations.

“However, due to cost escalation and delay in the land acquisition process, government of Jammu and Kashmir had decided in 2019 to provide government land in order to speed up the construction work. Land required for construction of transit accommodations is now available with the concerned department,” the government submitted to the committee—(KNO)