Mufti reviews development of Sgr city, talks tough about illegal constructions

KL Report

SRINAGAR

In order to improve the aesthetics and ambience of the summer capital, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today called a high-level meeting of top officers to take a firsthand appraisal on the status of ongoing developmental and restoration projects in the City Centre and suburbs.

Minister for Public Works, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Syed Altaf Bukhari and Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment and Culture, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu were also present in the meeting.

The Chief Minister issued immediate directions to the Power Development Department (PDD) to maintain streetlights in the city, especially focusing on Indira Gandhi, Residency, Maulana Azad, Gupkar, Boulevard and Athwajan Roads, as well as the Hazratbal, Dastageer Sahib and Khanqah-e-Moula Shrines in downtown Srinagar. He said the Government will provide adequate funds to the PDD to maintain the streetlights in the City Centre in future.

Taking a serious note of the illegal constructions being raised in the city, Mufti Sayeed asked the Commissioner, SMC, to ensure that people get building permissions in a hassle-free and time-bound manner so that they don’t resort to illegal constructions. The IGP, Kashmir, was directed to provide adequate manpower to SMC as well as so that no illegal structures come up in the city.

For smooth traffic movement within the city, the Chief Minister reviewed a detailed route plan jointly prepared by the Traffic Department, R&B, Town Planning Organization and the SDA. He issued directions to the R&B Department to expedite the land acquisition and shifting of utilities for widening of Athwajan-Zewan road stretch on South Corridor for which funds have already been released by the Government.

The RTO, Kashmir, apprised the Chief Minister about the steps being taken by the department to streamline the issuance of licenses to the vehicles. The Chief Minister said he will shortly review the performance of the Transport Department to discuss the issues of token tax, condemnation of vehicles and examining various proposals before the Government to enhance revenue realization in the sector.

In a bid to restore the pristine glory of the famous Dal lake, Mufti Sayeed asked Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to take effective steps in realigning the houseboats as per the Court directions so that common STP is installed for proper sewage disposal. He asked VC LAWDA to take all stakeholders on board for conservation of the lake.

LAWDA will create 5 clusters of 76 houseboats each after the boats are realigned for proper sewage disposal. There are presently 380 houseboats anchored in the lake in a haphazard manner.

The Chief Minister was informed that Rs. 258 crore have been utilized under the Dal Conservation Plan so far, for which funds have been provided by the Central Government. It was given out that 5 STPs are functional around the lake to which 175 km length sewer lines have been connected.

The Chief Minister issued directions to the Handicrafts Department for undertaking GI (Geographical Indication) Registration of famed handicrafts products as well as starting round-the-clock Crafts Centre at Kashmir Haat so that the visitors buy genuine products. He asked the Director Handicrafts to focus on price-tagging and branding of products so that we establish a foothold in national and international markets.

The Chief Minister was informed about the banking support required for Artisan Credit Scheme so that the artisans’ rights are protected.

To attract tourists to Srinagar city this season, the Chief Minister issued specific instructions to Director Tourism, Kashmir, to focus on conference tourism by inviting the Corporate sector to hold at least one of their Board meetings here. He also asked the department to start light-and-sound shows at Shalimar and Nishat Gardens as well as cultural evenings at Char Chinari in the Dal lake, by tying up with the Academy of Art, Culture & Languages to highlight the rich heritage of Kashmir.

Mufti Sayeed asked the Director Tourism to offer weekend and golf tourism packages for high-end tourists in the coming season. It was given out in the meeting that Tourism Department will organize in Srinagar a J&K Travel Mart from May 16-18 next month to boost the tourism sector in the State. Around 200 tour operators from across the country and 20 foreign buyers are expected to participate in the Travel Mart.

The Chief Minister was informed that the Tourism Department will also hold Laser Show at Hari Parbat, besides organizing cultural shows at Zabarwan Park and Peer Zoo on the Jhelum bund, as also in Gulmarg and Pahalgam resorts.

Asking the Divisional Administration to gear up restoration works in Srinagar city following the massive hit it took in last year’s floods, Mufti Sayeed reviewed the pace of restoration works being undertaken by Flood Control, R&B, Power & PHE Departments.

The Chief Minister was informed that the Flood Control Department has temporarily restored 1179 spots out of 4,000 vulnerable spots along river Jhelum, its tributaries and major canals. He was informed that a few spots on Sindh Extension were washed away due to prolonged spells of rains in March and early April. The Flood Control Department requires Rs. 471 crore to permanently restore the damaged infrastructure.

On the issue of scarcity of water supply in the city, the Chief Minister was informed that due to sliding away of 50 metres of Sindh Extension, the supply to Rangil Scheme was hampered which has now been restored. The supply from Doodhganga scheme has been affected due to high turbidity that has resulted in acute pressure on the filtration plants, the meeting was told. Around 1300 water supply schemes were affected in the Valley in floods last year.
The meeting was also informed that PDD has so far repaired 2200 transformers which were damaged in September floods.

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