Omar Abdullah for regularisation of ad hoc employees of tourism department

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today directed the Tourism Department to formulate a comprehensive proposal for the regularisation of ad hoc employees who have served for more than seven years.

Chairing the 17th meeting of the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA), Omar directed the department to formulate a proposal for the regularisation of ad hoc employees working in the offices of the Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) for more than seven years so that an early decision in consonance with the Planning and Finance Departments could be taken up.

Omar, who is also the chairman of PDA, asked the Forest and Environment Department to be in close association with TDAs to maintain natural serenity of health resorts and conservation and preservation of water bodies and forest.

Flanked by State Tourism Minister G A Mir, the Chief Minister while being informed about various schemes under execution in the jurisdiction of PDA, approved the re-alignment of Mall Road, Kud, to avoid the shifting of 132/11 KV transmission line.

He also approved Rs 1 crore for installation of 3.16 MVA power station at Kud besides Rs 20 lakh for development of a picnic spot and Rs 10 crore for sky-lift vehicle for the maintenance of hi-mast street lights.

He also cleared Rs 20 lakh for replacement of sodium-vapour street lights with LED ones to save power.

He directed that the funds available under the afforestation scheme for areas under PDA be utilised to raise plantation in denuded and parched forest areas.