L-G lays stone of ‘smart houses’ for flood-hit families at Chositi

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday laid the foundation stone for construction of new houses for flood-affected families at Chositi Paddar in Kishtwar.

A spokesperson said 19 houses that were completely damaged during natural disaster that struck Chositi will be rebuilt free of cost with support of High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), a civil society organisation.

In his address, the Lieutenant Governor paid homage to the people and security personnel who lost their lives due to the tragic natural disaster.

“The catastrophic floods swept away precious lives, wiped out several homes and tore through infrastructure. I am hopeful that the three-bedroom pre-fabricated smart houses for which the foundation stone was laid today will help bring the lives of the affected families back on track,” Sinha said.

He also appreciated HRDS India for its noble initiative. “Since SDRF relief is insufficient, I had earlier requested HRDS India to rebuild 1,500 fully damaged houses across the UT under Operation Sindoor and in the aftermath of August floods, to which they had agreed. This initiative will provide huge relief to the affected families,” he said.

Officials said each house will feature a concrete foundation and utilising prefabricated technology, including fibre cement boards, powder-coated GI sheets, and a steel structural framework with C-channel sections. “These materials have been selected for their strength, durability and ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions, ensuring long-term resilience and suitability to the region’s environment. Every reconstructed unit will be developed as a “Smart House,” incorporating modern design elements for comfort, safety and functionality,” the spokesperson said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor expressed his gratitude to all the emergency responders, district administration, Army, NDRF, SDRF, police, armed forces, local community, youth and voluntary organisations for saving precious lives, evacuating Machail Mata devotees to safety and providing timely medical care.

“I must commend the profound resilience of the people of Chositi. Nature has tested them severely, but this strong community met the challenge head-on,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He also announced that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will reconstruct Atholi to Machail Mata Road and build a new bridge in Chositi. He further said that all the black spots in mobile network connection have been identified and land has been transferred to BSNL to set up new 4G towers.

During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor interacted with the local residents and listened to their issues and demands. He directed the district administration to connect the youth with self-employment opportunities through Mission Yuva.

Sinha said the ongoing works for the augmentation of facilities for the pilgrims at Machail Mata will be completed by May 2026. He also assured that appropriate steps will be taken to meet the demand for construction of Yatri Niwas at Paddar.