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| Tara Chand spells out development plan for Srinagar city | | |
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 15 - The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Tara Chand today said that Rs. 554 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Srinagar city including Rs. 133 crore for upgradation of its sewerage and drainage system. He said another Rs. 148 crore have been earmarked for Water Supply Scheme, Tangnar of which Rs. 33 crore have been already released.
Mr. Tara Chand was addressing a meeting of Corporators of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), convened by him here today. Civic problems of Srinagar city were thoroughly discussed in the meeting that ran into several hours with the participants calling for restoration of beauty and grandeur of the city boasting of a recorded history of 5,000 years.
Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar also participated in the meeting, besides Mayor, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Mr. Salman Sagar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Director, Local Bodies, Kashmir, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Commissioner, SMC, VC, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority and senior officers of various line departments.
The beautification of Srinagar city and the earnest attention to its drainage and sewage problems were prominently raised by the Corporators, urging the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Urban Development Department, to take urgent measures in this regard. The plight of the water-bodies in the city was also highlighted with the participating Corporators demanding immediate measures to clean these. Some cases of structures having come up in the green zone of the city were also brought to the notice of the Deputy Chief Minister.
The deliberations proved significant as Corporators put forth their points to make SMC a vibrant institution, both functionally and resource-wise, to meet the expectations of the people of Srinagar city. The highlight of the discussion was that each Corporator was accorded adequate time to make observations and put forth suggestions while the Deputy Chief Minister gave a patient and attentive hearing to the points raised by them.
The Corporators were unanimous in demanding increase in the funds to the SMC and coordination among various line departments to ensure that the institution comes up to the expectations of the people. They also highlighted civic problems in their respective wards and urged immediate redressal. The increase in the honorarium of the Corporators was also stressed on by the participants. Another point which was highlighted the most was the shortage of Safai Karamcharis in the summer capital. There was a unanimous demand of increasing the number of Safai Karamcharis.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that two committees have been constituted in Jammu and Srinagar, headed by Divisional Commissioners of respective Divisions to ensure coordination between the line departments for executing various development works. He added that Corporators who show performance aboveboard shall be suitably rewarded.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that for the rehabilitation of the residents of Summerbug and Eidgah Wanganpora, an amount of Rs. 16.53 crore have been set aside. He ordered enquiry by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and District Development Commissioner, Srinagar into the alleged illegal constructions and encroachments in the green zone of Srinagar and asked them to submit their report within 15 days. He asked the administration to intensify drive against illegal structures and encroachments. He also asked the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar to enquire into the complaint of non-construction of Qamarabad-Qamarwari road.
Reacting to the points raised by Corporators, including the demand for enhancement of their honorarium, Mr. Tara Chand assured them that he would take up these issues with the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister. He said his meeting with the Corporators was both educative and informative and he would like to continue such interactions in future as these help address the issues in a better way. He said SMC and its Jammu counterpart would be developed into vibrant and effective institutions to serve the people better.
In his address, Mr. Sagar described the Corporators as an important tool for strengthening the democracy at the grassroots level. He said the coalition Government, led by Mr. Omar Abdullah, would provide all financial support to strengthen these Corporations. He said Government would also consider the proposal for entrusting more powers to these institutions enabling them to generate financial resources.
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