NEW DELHI, JUNE 06 : Inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is funding the construction of National Disaster Mitigation Centre and Yatri Niwas in Sidhra, Jammu. The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas for Petroleum, and Housing and Urban Affairs Mr Hardeep Singh Puri, and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Mr Manoj Sinha laid the centre's foundation stone on 6 June 2023.

Every year, lakhs of tourists visit Srinagar and Amarnath. The large footfalls have been causing logistical challenge 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. 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). 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. The event was attended by the Chairman and CEO of ONGC Mr 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.