3 member World Bank team meets Chief Secretary

Srinagar : The 3 member team of World Bank led by AbhasJha, Practice Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, South Asia Region with Deepak Singh, Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank and Hemang Karelia, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist of World Bank as members today had a meeting with Chief Secretary J&K, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta regarding the World Bank funded projects being implemented in the Jammu and Kashmir.The World Bank team lauded the efforts of J&K government in streamlining implementation of the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) during the past two years.Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA was present in the meeting.

Chief Secretary had a detailed discussion with the visiting team about the progress of the World Bank funded JTFRP in the UT. He emphasized the need for exploring more possibilities for capacity building of engineers in the sphere of seismic proof construction. He expressed hope that World Bank would continue to support J&K in the areas of climate change, sustainable development, environmental sustainability and other significant sectors.Later, the World Bank team visited 500 LPM Manifold Oxygen Plant at SDH Charar-e-Sharief at Budgam, one of the Manifold Oxygen Plants constructed by J&KERA under the World Bank funded JTFRP. It was informed that the Oxygen Plant at Charar-e-Sharief will directly benefit the population of around 1 lakh souls in various areas of remote Charier-e-Sharief tehsil in Budgam district.

During the visit of the World Bank team, a delegation of local community based organization called on them and thanked the World Bank for funding the construction of a much needed Oxygen plant in the area.Pertinent to mention here that under the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery project 30 Oxygen Plants have been constructed by J&KERA at a cost of Rs 70 crore in most far flung areas across J&K.During visit to Rs 12.88 crore Bonpora-Padshahi Bagh Storm Water Drainage project constructed by J&KERA under JTFRP, the team was informed that the area was one of the worst hit residential areas to be badly damaged during the floods of 2014 and with construction of this project the people here have been immensely benefited.A delegation of local community also called on the visiting team and expressed their gratitude to World Bank for providing the people of area with the much needed facility of storm water drainage.

The team also visited pumping station at Lalmandi being constructed as part of Rs 103 crore up gradation of the 49 pumping stations in Srinagar.The World Bank team also visited the JLNM, Hospital at Rainawari and was shown various latest critical medical care equipments which have been provided under the JTFR project at a cost of Rs 270 crore to all the District Hospitals across J&K.Medical Superintendent, JLNM Hospital, said that the equipments provided under the World Bank funded project have brought a key change in providing best quality healthcare services to people in J&K.She added that the latest hi-tech equipment’s like Anaesthesia work station, Dithermy vessel sealing machines, high flow oxygen devices, Dialysis machines, Hydraulic OT beds etc have turned the hospital into the state of art health care facility.AbhasJha expressed satisfaction and gratitude that the critical care medical equipments provided to different hospitals across the UT under World Bank funded projects have considerably upgraded the health infrastructure in the UT.