Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted that several road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the Gurezi constituency of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district are lying dormant due to pending forest clearances, despite being sanctioned.
In a written reply to a question raised by National Conference (NC) MLA Nazir Ahmed Khan (Gurezi) during the autumn Session, the Public Works (R&B) Department as per Kashmir Convener stated that while the projects have been sanctioned, contractors have not been able to commence work on the ground.
The query specifically pertained to the status of road projects connecting Barnai-Joudara, Jurnial, Jurnial-Datt, Mansgund-Quraishpora, Chak Biyant-Jarjori, and other allied roads under PMGSY Batch-I of 2025-26 and 2026-27.
In its official reply, the government acknowledged that the execution of these projects is stalled. “The roads stand allotted but have not yet been taken up on ground owing to pending forest clearance,” the government stated regarding the Barnai-Joudara, Jurnial-Datt, Mansgund-Quraishpora, and Jarjori projects.
The Deputy Director Planning and the Minister Incharge, further detailed that cases requiring Forest Clearance are currently being processed through prescribed procedures. This includes joint inspections and the submission of proposals on the PARIVESH portal.
To expedite the process, the government said the matter is being “regularly pursued” with the Forest Department and other concerned authorities through review meetings. The administration assured that “wherever permissible, work on non-forest portions is being taken up.”
Regarding the timeline for completion, the government stated that the remaining works shall commence immediately upon receipt of the requisite Forest Clearance and will be completed within the stipulated period under the scheme.
According to the reply, while most roads in the region are stalled due to forest issues, the construction of the L14 to Khan Mohalla Bosgay Via Jan Jooji road (Package No. JK15-4026) is currently “Ongoing in Non forest area.”
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