DC Pulwama reviews progress of AIIMS Awantipora

Pulwama, Nov 6: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, Friday chaired a meeting at the District Administrative Complex, Pulwama, to review the progress of the AIIMS Awantipora project, assess the status of essential infrastructure and address issues requiring inter-departmental coordination for its operationalisation.
During the meeting, the Executive Director, AIIMS Awantipora, briefed the chair about the progress achieved and highlighted various issues requiring intervention and coordination. The meeting discussed the additional land requirement for the project, power and water supply, CCTV installation, operationalisation of lifts and other vital installations, besides transport and road connectivity arrangements.
Regarding the additional land requirement, ADC Awantipora informed the meeting that approximately 300 kanals of land have already been identified and the case forwarded to the competent authority for necessary action.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for seamless vehicular movement from the National Highway to the AIIMS main gate, internal transportation and adequate parking facilities.
It was apprised that arrangements for transport facilities had been finalised, while internal transportation arrangements are being made by the executing agency. The DC advised the executing agency to explore the provision of two buses under its CSR initiative to facilitate internal transport within the campus. He also stressed the need for effective traffic regulation and prevention of indiscriminate parking along the approach road. The issue of macadamisation of the approach road leading to the electricity receiving station was also taken up with the executing agency for necessary action.
The chair was further informed that the police station within the AIIMS premises is ready for handover. The meeting decided that the police station would be formally taken over next week.
Reviewing the arrangements for commencement of healthcare services, the DC directed the executing agency to put in place a well-structured biomedical waste management and disposal mechanism. He also advised exploring the feasibility of constructing an emergency helipad within the premises to facilitate emergency medical response.
Emphasising the project’s potential to strengthen the local economy, the DC called upon the AIIMS authorities to provide employment opportunities to local educated unemployed youth, wherever feasible. He also stressed wide publicity of recruitment notifications to ensure that eligible local candidates are adequately informed and get sufficient time to apply.
Taking note of the sloping terrain and challenging winter conditions in the area, the DC sought details of the snow-clearance plan and measures proposed to prevent slippery road conditions. He directed the Mechanical Engineering Department to formulate a coordinated plan for the procurement and deployment of adequate machinery to ensure timely snow clearance and uninterrupted connectivity.
The meeting also deliberated on drainage, water harvesting and water inundation mitigation measures in view of the area’s topography and the possibility of heavy rainfall and cloudbursts. The chair was apprised that a comprehensive plan had been devised to prevent waterlogging and inundation of the AIIMS campus and adjoining areas. The DC directed the concerned authorities to revisit and strengthen the plan to ensure effective management of surface runoff, particularly during extreme weather events. He further stressed the need for adequate retaining walls along the hillside to safeguard the campus and its infrastructure.
Concluding the meeting, the DC called for close coordination among all concerned departments and the executing agency, directing them to address pending issues in a time-bound manner to facilitate the timely operationalisation of AIIMS Awantipora.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Awantipora Mushtaq Ahmad Lone; Chief Planning Officer, Pulwama, Aashiq Khanday; Executive Director, AIIMS Awantipora; SE PWD; SE Hydraulics; SE KPDCL; Exen KPDCL and representatives of executing agency.