Srinagar, June 6: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she had spoken to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and urged him to expedite the ongoing construction work at AIIMS Awantipora to ensure the premier healthcare institution becomes operational without any further delay.

In a post on social media platform X, Mehbooba said the Union Health Minister assured her that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

“I spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda ji and requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn’t get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time,” she wrote.

The former Chief Minister said the project assumes greater significance at a time when the healthcare sector in Jammu and Kashmir is facing mounting challenges and pressure on medical infrastructure.

She acknowledged the efforts of the team executing the project, stating that workers and officials were putting in sustained efforts to meet deadlines.

“Undoubtedly, the team assigned here is toiling day and night, but given how healthcare is crumbling across J&K, it is imperative that AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon,” Mehbooba said.

She expressed hope that the institution would provide much-needed relief to patients and strengthen the delivery of quality healthcare services in the region.

AIIMS Awantipora, one of the flagship healthcare projects in Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to significantly enhance tertiary healthcare facilities, medical education and specialised treatment services once operational.

On Friday, Mehbooba visited the upcoming AIIMS site at Awantipora in J&K’s Pulwama district to “understand” its progress, with the ruling National Conference questioning her capacity to conduct the “review”.

“Some people seem to be suffering from political amnesia. They still behave as if they are in power, even though they lost office in 2018 and have since been repeatedly rejected by the people,” NC leader and Health Minister Sakina Itoo said on X.

She said the current elected government is led by Omar Abdullah, “yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are conducting reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project”.

“More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions?” Itoo asked.

The minister said it is “ironic that those because of whom the AIIMS project moved at a painfully slow pace are now trying to claim ownership of its progress”.

Police in south Kashmir’s Shopian district planted around 1,000 ornamental saplings across police establishments on Thursday to mark World Environment Day, officials said.

The plantation drive was conducted at various locations, including the District Police Office (DPO) and District Police Lines (DPL) Shopian, with officers and personnel participating in the initiative.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shopian planted a sapling at the DPO and highlighted the importance of environmental conservation. He said protecting the environment is a shared responsibility and urged citizens and police personnel alike to contribute towards a greener and healthier future through sustained plantation and conservation efforts. The drive aimed to raise environmental awareness, enhance green cover and encourage collective action towards ecological sustainability. Senior officers also reaffirmed Shopian Police’s commitment to environmental protection and community welfare initiatives.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has registered a case following the outcome of a Joint Surprise Check conducted into allegations of corruption, financial irregularities, procedural violations, and abuse of official position in connection with development works executed by the Horticulture Department at Zawoora Garden, Srinagar.

As per a press release, the joint surprise check was initiated by Police Station ACB, Srinagar, to examine allegations relating to the development of the Centre of Excellence at Zawoora Garden, Srinagar. The enquiry revealed prima facie evidence of serious irregularities in the tendering and execution of works undertaken under the project.

During the verification, it surfaced that NIT was allegedly framed in a manner that lacked specific quality parameters and technical specifications, thereby creating scope for arbitrary decision-making. It was further found that the financial provisions incorporated in the tender were substantially higher than those envisaged in the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The enquiry also revealed that the eligibility criteria relating to financial turnover were allegedly fixed at an unusually high threshold, despite the actual requirement being significantly lower.

This restrictive condition is alleged to have curtailed fair competition and favoured a particular bidder, said the press release.

The findings of the Joint Surprise Check prima facie indicate abuse of official position, criminal misconduct, and criminal conspiracy involving public servants and the beneficiary private firm, resulting in undue pecuniary advantage to the contractor and corresponding loss to the Government.

Accordingly, a case FIR No. 09/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB, Srinagar, under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B RPC against the then Director Horticulture Kashmir, members of the District Level Purchase Committee (DLPC), members of the Inspection Committee, the beneficiary contractor M/S Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., and other involved persons, the press statement added.

“Further investigation into the case has been taken up to identify the role and culpability of all concerned and to take appropriate legal action in accordance with law,” said the press release.