SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Tara Chand inaugurated Srinagar Development Authority’s prestigious Habitat Centre at Bemina today in presence of Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Batmaloo, Mr. Irfan Ahmad Shah.
Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Jeet Lal Gupta, Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Khawaja Farooq Renzushah, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. G.N. Qasba, Vice Chairman, LAWDA, Mr. Irfan Yaseen, Joint Director Information, Kashmir, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Khan and other officers were present on the occasion.
Addressing an impressive function, the Dy. Chief Minister appreciated the Srinagar Development Authority for playing a vital role in revitalizing the development activities in Srinagar city and also for completion of this prestigious Habitat Centre project. He said that four storeyed complex has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 10.80 crore involving eight kanals of land, which has accommodated various offices of Housing and Urban Development Department including Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Town Planning Organization, Kashmir, Architectural Organization Kashmir, J&K Housing Board and Urban Development Agency Kashmir.
Saying that the Habitat Centre is another magnificent addition to J&K’s Housing Sector, Dy. CM hoped that SDA will continue to take up many more prestigious projects benefiting common masses.
Responding to the demand of shifting the project of construction of Slaughter House at Alocha Bagh, Dy. Chief Minister assured MLA Batmaloo that Rs. 35 crore project will be shifted to a suitable place where scientific methods will be adopted to minimize environmental pollution, adding that solid waste management is already under execution to ensure cleanliness in Srinagar city.
Lauding the role of Central Government led by Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Deputy Chief Minister said that several mega projects are under execution with massive funding in the projects which include power, drinking water, roads and welfare programmes so that J&K State also attains prosperity like other progressive states of the country.
Giving resume of activities of coalition government, Deputy Chief Minister said that four laneing of national highway, rail line connecting Kashmir with Jammu province and upgradation of Srinagar Airport to International standards has opened several windows for tourism and economic development of the State.
Referring to education sector, Deputy Chief Minister said that Central Government opened Central Universities in both the divisions of the State besides the existing universities to provide ample opportunities of higher learning to the students of the State.
Speaking about the functioning of the department under his control, Deputy Chief Minister said that during the four years of present government, transparency has been brought in issuance of birth and death certificates, building permission and listing of public grievances on line.
To control environment degradation, Deputy Chief Minister said that by setting up of powerful Sewerage Treatment Plants at world famous Dal Lake, great change has been recorded in quality of water of lake and steps are afoot to make the lake pollution free. He said 11,000 families are being shifted from Dal Lake to 5000 kanals of land of Rakh-e-Arth Housing Colony and Central Government has sanctioned Rs. 356 crore for the rehabilitation project.
Deputy Chief Minister further said that the revision of Master Plan both at Jammu and Srinagar are at completion stage which will ensure effective planning of these two major cities of the State. He said that Srinagar Master Plan extended to 757 sq. kms shall be taking full care of protection of the environment of the city, maintenance of duty, creation of further infrastructure for tourist activities as tourism industry is the backbone of the Valley.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani expressed his satisfaction for locating all the offices of Housing and Urban Development under one roof so that the people concerned will be facilitated.
Appreciating the role of Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah in providing comfort to people, Mr. Nasir Aslam said that a revolution of development is apace in all the three regions of the State due the utmost efforts of the Chief Minister.
He also assured for special attention to the development of Shahre Khas, where he said that Chief Minister has constituted committee for providing housing facilities to the habitation of old city of Srinagar.
MLA Batmaloo, Mr. Irfan Ahmad Shah while addressing the function said that single window system will boost the morale of the authorities of Housing and Urban Development Department as well as people related to the department.
However, he appealed the Dy. Chief Minister to prioritize the repairs and renovation of lanes and drains of Bemina Housing Colony besides providing adequate power and drinking water facility.
Vice Chairman, SDA, Khawaja Farooq Renzushah in his speech expressed satisfaction for fulfilment of the dream of bringing all the offices of Housing and Urban Development in one complex. He expressed his gratitude to Dy. Chief Minister for his support and guidance in completing the task successfully. He said the work done by SDA, LAWDA, SMC or other departments related to urban and sub-urban development are aimed at providing best possible facilities to the people to live a dignified life. (KMW News)Â