Union Petroleum Minister lays foundation stone of ONGC-funded Yatri Niwas in Jammu with J&K Lt. Governor
Inspired by the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited is funding the construction of National Disaster Mitigation Centre and Yatri Niwas in Sidhra, Jammu. Hon’ble Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas for Petroleum, and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, and Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha laid the center’s foundation stone on 6 June 2023.
“Undertaking CSR initiatives and catering to human rights is not only the responsibility of the State but also successful Corporates entities. Such projects have inbuilt momentum within themselves. In order to achieve Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of macroeconomic stability by ‘Amrit Kaal’ or ‘The Era of Elixir’, we need to move out of the colonial mindset and reclaim our cultural and civilizational ethos,” said Hon’ble Petroleum Minister.
Every year, lakhs of tourists visit Srinagar and Amarnath. The large footfalls have been causing logistical challenges for a long time, especially for the needy tourists and pilgrims. This ONGC-funded Yatri Niwas will solve this logistical challenge to a large extent, by providing accommodation for 30,000 tourists in a year, thus staggering the movement of tourists and pilgrims.
The ONGC Disaster Management Centre will play a pivotal role in providing essential amenities such as lodging, sanitation, and safe drinking water. It will serve as a central hub for distributing vital information and delivering relief measures during emergencies. Additionally, it will contribute to traffic management and ensure a seamless tourist/pilgrimage experience, with a special focus on facilitating boarding and lodging facilities for needy tourists/pilgrims.
On the occasion, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to ONGC for supporting the project. “I would like to express gratitude to Chairman Arun Kumar Singh & the Board of Directors of ONGC for their outstanding support in realizing the dream of Jammu Yatri Niwas & Disaster Management Center. We will remain eternally grateful to them,” he tweeted.
He further acknowledged that the pilgrims faced a lot of issues on their way to the holy shrine. “There was a lack of facilities previously but now they can easily avail them.”
Moreover, the local population, including unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers, artisans, craftsmen, daily wage laborers, street vendors, and weavers, will also experience the positive impact of increased footfalls resulting from these ONGC-created facilities.
The construction of the National Disaster Mitigation Center and Yatri Niwas will take place on a 1.84-acre (8378 square meter) plot, with an approximate built-up area of 1.875 acres (8500 square meters). ONGC, through its Corporate Infrastructure Group, will oversee the implementation of this project to ensure its timely and efficient completion, while also upholding its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The event was attended by the Chairman and CEO of ONGC Arun Kumar Singh, as well as other esteemed guests. The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and ONGC.
ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh assured that the state-owned Energy Giant undertakes proposals regarding any social responsibility on priority. “With a positive view of enabling tourists and taking disaster management into consideration, this initiative will help a lot of people visit Jammu and Kashmir.”
As a part of its extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ONGC has made a generous pledge of Rs. 51 crore to support this project. This substantial undertaking, funded by India’s Energy Maharatna ONGC, further demonstrates its unwavering commitment to serve the nation.
