Minister for Tourism, Tassaduq Hussain Mufti today stressed on the need to preserve heritage value of Srinagar City. The Minister was speaking at a meeting to review the progress on urban tourism infrastructure projects taken up in Srinagar city and itperipheries.
“The heritage value of the capital city needs to be preserved while executing the development projects,” he asserted. The meeting was attended by the representatives of SMC, SDA, LAWDA and UEED. Each department gave separate power point presentations on the status of the development projects and schemes being executed by them in the city. SMC Commissioner Riyaz Ahmad Wani briefed the Minister about various development schemes being implemented for the beautification of the city. He informed the meeting about the development of parks, green streets, public convenience points, installation of street lights, creation of parking places, besides plantation and beautification of open spaces.
In order to rid the city of street dog menace, SMC Commissioner informed the meeting that corporation is sterilizing 80 stray dogs every day. For the conservation of the Dal Lake and other water bodies, Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) outlined its rehabilitation plan of the Dal dwellers and also demarcation of the lake boundaries to prevent encroachment and construction of illegal structures. VC LAWDA Dr Hafeez Masoodi in his presentation informed the meeting that they are doing geo-tagging of the structures within 200 meters of the water bodies in the notified area to keep watch on any illegal construction. He also outlined the plans of shifting of the Dal dwellers and expediting the development Rakh-i-Arth colony in Bemina for their speedy rehabilitation.
While taking serious note of chocking of Dal Lake, the Minister stressed on reclaiming the canals and Nallahs besides cleaning other water bodies to restore their pristine glory. He also stressed on the beatification of the Dal embankments, dredging and laying of sewer lines to prevent waste and household refuse going into the water bodies. Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Director Land Management Showket Ahmad Matto briefed the meeting about the construction of parking and commercial complexes in the city to ease traffic congestions at chronic points. He also briefed the meeting about the development of park at Sangarmal Shopping Complex.
He said that park is being developed on over 6 kanals of land at an estimated cost of Rs 3.96 crore. Tasaduq Mufti stressed on doing the comprehensive survey on travelling plan of the people according to which, he said, the parking facilities should be developed. The meeting also discussed the conservation, development and redesigning of heritage structures in the old city to attract heritage lovers to the city.
The Minister emphasized on design intervention for the preservation of local heritage and asked the departments to design beautiful façade of the heritage buildings and remove any obstructions blocking their views. While seeking coordination and cooperation among departments, he asked them to stick to the deadlines for the completion of the projects so that tangible results are achieved on the ground. He also stressed upon concerned officials to work in synergy and zeal. Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah and various other officials of the concerned departments attended the meeting.