Sagar visits old city, directs speeding up heritage projects

SRINAGAR, (KMW News):– While asking the officers to speed up the beautification project of the old city, Srinagar being taken up on heritage basis, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar said that the same would go a long way in boosting the economic and tourism related activities and bringing Srinagar on the tourist map.
The Minister was interacting with officers during his tour of the old City today. He was accompanied by District Development Commissioner Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Dr. G. N. Qasba, Managing Director JK PCC and other senior officers of different departments and executing agencies.
The Minister directed the officers to ensure that the structures being acquired in the beautification project of the Zainakadal area are being compensated properly and the shopkeepers whose shops will be acquired should be rehabilitated within the catchment area so that their business does not get affected. He said that the people should be compensated keeping in mind the recent market values.
Asking the officers of different executing agencies to work in close coordination, the Minister directed them to ensure a synergized effort to speed up the beautification of the Zainakadal area and its catchment areas for which the funds have already been earmarked. He said that the area holds a special place in the history of the State and we should work to restore its old glory.
Mr. Sagar also directed the officers to take up the work on the community hall being constructed at Malikpora, Zainakadal within estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. He said that it should be constructed within the shortest possible time for the general convenience of the public living in the area.
The Minister also directed the concerned officers to acquire the structures near the newly constructed community hall at ChalpanKocha so that the link road can be taken up there. He also directed for completing the other developmental works being taken up in the area within the shortest possible time so that the people living in these areas get benefitted from the same.
While interacting with the people of different localities, the Minister said that the government has already put in place a comprehensive plan for ensuring need based development of the old city and is committed to restore its pristine glory. He said that they should understand that the party trying to mislead the people has subjected resorted to worst form of discrimination to the Srinagar city when it was in power and now they are trying to mislead people by telling lies and spreading canards.