KATRA: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the construction of 320 houses for families whose homes were completely destroyed in flash floods and landslides in Reasi district.
The housing project, to be executed by the High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), will be fully funded by the organisation at an estimated cost of ₹32 crore, without any financial burden on the government. The affected families will be provided with modern, prefabricated ‘smart houses’.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor had also laid foundation stones for 1,869 houses for families affected by Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor and recent natural calamities across eight districts—Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Ramban, Jammu, Kathua and Samba.
Addressing a gathering in Reasi, Sinha said the initiative reflects a new model of development where vulnerable families are supported without government expenditure. He expressed confidence that the houses would be completed within six months and said the designs include facilities such as cowsheds to support rural livelihoods.
Reiterating his commitment to inclusive development, the Lieutenant Governor said that over the past five years, the Union Territory has witnessed integrated physical, social and digital infrastructure growth with a people-centric approach.
Highlighting development initiatives in Reasi district, Sinha said several infrastructure projects have been launched to improve connectivity and ease of living. He also assured that work on the long-pending underground sewerage system for Katra town would begin within the next six months.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Master Plan for Katra is in its final stages and will be approved soon, while efforts are underway to establish an inter-modal transport station.
Sinha lauded the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for its effective response during recent rescue and relief operations and outlined several initiatives undertaken by the Board. These include the construction of a ₹30-crore Shankaracharya Temple in Katra to enhance the spiritual landscape and local economy, following the completion of five temples in Reasi last year, with another five in progress.
He also said the Shrine Board has prioritised the promotion of Sanskrit and Vedic education, providing ₹1.5 crore to Kathua’s Chudamani Sanskrit Santhan Nyas and continued support to Sanskrit Pathshalas, Gurukuls and Ved Pathshalas. The Board’s Gurukul has earned national recognition, while its sustained efforts have won several national awards for environmental excellence.
Additionally, the Shrine Board is reconstructing 15 schools damaged in recent floods and has spent ₹12 crore over the past seven years on the development of villages surrounding the holy shrine.
