Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of 449 new homes for families affected by recent natural calamities in Kathua and Samba districts. The initiative aims to provide dignified and modern housing to families whose homes were completely damaged during flash floods and other calamities earlier this year.
In Kathua, 344 new houses will be built at a cost of 34 crore, while in Samba, 105 damaged houses will be reconstructed at a cost of 10.50 crore. All homes will be three-bedroom prefabricated “Smart Houses” designed with climate-resilient features, boundary walls, cowsheds, and modern amenities.
The construction will be fully financed by High-Range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), which will also ensure maintenance of the homes for five years, free life-insurance coverage for 15 years, and annual health check-ups for all beneficiaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor praised HRDS India for supporting the UT administration in its mission to rebuild lives and restore normalcy for affected families.
“Unity is strength. We witnessed this collective spirit during the crisis in August. The welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir is our top priority, and we remain committed to fulfilling their aspirations,” LG Sinha said.
He added that the housing project reflects the administration’s commitment to inclusive development and instructed the district authorities to ensure that no genuine beneficiary is left out.
The first phase includes the construction of 1,500 advanced Smart Houses, expected to be completed within six months of foundation work.
Speaking about development in Kathua and Samba, the LG highlighted the significant transformation across sectors since 2019 and urged citizens to continue supporting ongoing developmental efforts.
“Better infrastructure, education, health, employment, equal opportunities, and social justice have always been my priorities. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are scripting a new history of inclusive growth,” he said.
The LG also acknowledged the efforts of the administration, police, army, CAPFs, disaster response teams, and civil society for their role during the recent calamities. Relief assistance of 8.22 crore for Kathua and 1.38 crore for Samba has already been disbursed.
During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated a state-of-the-art Indoor Sports Stadium in Kathua. Built in collaboration with corporate partners, the facility includes modern indoor sports infrastructure along with outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, aimed at boosting youth engagement and sports culture in the district.
The foundation stone-laying event was attended by senior officials, DDC chairpersons, HRDS India representatives, and local residents.(KINS)
