Srinagar, Apr 26: J&K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday directed Srinagar Municipal Corporation to ensure that no illegal constructions take place in the summer capital.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review development scenario of Srinagar, Mufti directed Commissioner SMC to ensure that people get building permissions in a hassle-free and time-bound manner so that no illegal constructions take place.
Taking a note of illegal constructions, the Chief Minister directed Inspector General of Police Kashmir to provide adequate manpower to SMC as well as the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) so that no illegal structures come up in the city, an official official spokesman said.
Minister for Public Works, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Syed AltafBukhari 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 Hazratbal, Dastageer Sahib and Khanqah-e-Moula shrines in downtown. He said the Government will provide adequate funds to PDD to maintain streetlights in the City Centre.
“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 spokesman added.
In a bid to restore glory of Dal lake, Mufti asked the LAWDA to take effective steps in realigning houseboats as per 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 spokesman said.
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,” he said.
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 visitors buy genuine products only.
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 collaborating with the Academy of Art, Culture & Languages to highlight the rich heritage of Kashmir.
Mufti 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 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 spokesman said.
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.
Asking the Divisional Administration to gear up restoration works in Srinagar city following the massive hit it took in last year’s floods, Mufti 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 meeting was also informed that PDD has so far repaired 2200 transformers which were damaged in September floods.