Coming up at a cost of Rs 1.65 crore at Khal, Natipora in Rambagh area of Srinagar city, the community hall, would be dedicated to the public next month. Spread over one and a half kanal of land, the state of the art double-storey community hall has a capacity to accommodate over 1000 persons. The locals will be able to organize social gatherings (marriage functions) in the community hall.This was announced by the Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while inspecting the facility last evening.Superintending Engineer, SMC, Ishtiaq Ahmad Shah besides officers from Power, PHE, Revenue and R&B departments accompanied the Minister.
The Minister asked the concerned officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to expedite leftover work on Community Hall so that the facility is dedicated to the people at the earliest. He said people of the area are facing acute shortage of space for social gatherings, adding that the community hall once completed will ease their difficulties.Syed Altaf said the Government is committed to create better living and basic facilities for the people. He said the facility has been created for the people of the area and asked them to ensure its security and cleanliness. “It is the responsibility of every citizen of the area to maintain the facility,” said the Minister adding that every person of the area has to play their role in protecting this asset.The Minister also visited several parts of Rambagh, Natipora Khal and interacted with the people, who apprised him about the problems they are facing on account of basic facilities. They demanded early construction of drains, macadamization of roads, replacement of dilapidated electric poles and old conductors besides upgradation of interior lanes.
The Minister, in certain cases, issued on the spot instructions to the concerned authorities for executing the works demanded by the locals and asked Superintending Engineer, SMC to prepare a detailed project report of the works. He directed him to execute the works immediately which could be done within available resources. He said funds for earth-filling and fencing of graveyard will be provided out of his CDF.Regarding improving power infrastructure, the Minister said that all power related issues of the area will be addressed once ARDRP is implemented, which is likely to be launched from November this year. The Minister also inspected ongoing macadamization of interior roads and asked concerned engineers to speed up the work. He said drainage is the major issue of the area as most of the drains have either chocked by the September 2014 floods or have got damaged severely due to other reasons. He directed authorities of SMC to reconstruct and repair the worn-out drainage system in the area on priority.