PM announces Rs 80,000-crore package for J&K

Prime Minister  Narendra Modi today announced a Rs80,000-crore development package for or the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, Modi said that this was just the beginning, which would change the state's fortunes and build a modern Kashmir.

Addressing the crowd, the Prime Minister said that India has surpassed China in terms of growth in the last 17 months.

He also added that the NDA government had made all attempts to weed out corruption and highlighted former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's focus for Kashmir's development.

The Rs80,000 crore package comprises:

Rs7,854 crore for flood relief, reconstruction and flood management, including monetary asistance to people to rebuild damaged houses and infrastructure, restoration of livelihood for traders and small businessmen; a plan for comprehensive flood management of the River Jhelum and its tributaries; and Jhelum-Tawi flood reconstruction project;

Rs42,611 crore for road and highway projects, including the construction of Zojila tunnel; semi ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar; projects under Bharat Mala for better connectivity; and upgradation of important highway and other projects in the State.

Rs11,708 crore for power and new and renewable energy projects.This includes augmentation of power infrastructure and distribution systems; solar power; small hydro projects.

Rs4,900 crore for health, including the creation of two AIIMS-like institutions in capital cities of the State, and support for creation of infrastructure in hospitals and Primary Health Centres.

Rs2,600 crore for human resource development, skills development and sports. This includes establishment of IIT and IIM in Jammu; stepping up efforts under the HIMAYAT scheme to train one lakh youth over five years, and augmenting sports infrastructure.

Rs 529 crore for agriculture and food processing encompasing support for horticulture, and creation of cold storage facilities

Rs2,241 crore for tourism including new projects and tourist circuits, and setting up of 50 tourist villages.

Rs2,312 crore for Urban Development under Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat missions; and for infrastructure in towns of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rs5,263 crore for security and welfare of displaced people. This includes amounts towards jobs for Kashmiri migrants, rehabilitation of families from Chhamb and PoK, construction of houses, and setting up of five India Reserve Battalions. The India Reserve Battalions will create 4,000 jobs for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rs50 crore for the Pashmina Promotion Project

These amounts are over and above the amounts already committed, including Rs837 crore under Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and Rs1,000 crore given to the state after last year's floods.