Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Asiea Naqash Wednesday urged officials to move out of offices and take stock of works in and on around summer capital Srinagar.Chairing a high level meeting of Housing Board here today, Asiea Naqash directed officials to work in complete synergy and bring positive changes on the ground. “Officials are principal instruments of change and the government especially Chief Minister, Mehboob Mufti expect immediate results so that people who are the real stakeholders feel a positive change on the ground," she said.The meeting was attended by the Managing Director, J&K Housing Board, Hilal Ahmad, In-charge Vice-chairman, Lakes and Water Development Authority, Shah Faesal, Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Tehseen Mustufa, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Chief Town Planner, Iftikhar Hakeem among other officials of the UEED, SMC, SDA, LAWDA.
Asking officers to lead from the front in solving problems of the people, Asiea urged officials to complete the works initiated by the former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed across Srinagar city. “Mufti sahib was keen to see Srinagar growing into a developed city. It was his dream project and it all depends on you to realize that project,” she said. “You have to really reach out the people at their doorsteps. They would only understand you once you are having deliberations with them on the issues and developmental plans,” she said.The Minister urged heads of the various departments to look into the grey areas of their department and address the same.She urged SMC Commissioner to make sure that Srinagar is clean and green. She directed him to deal with the Achan dumping site in Srinagar with utmost professionalism.
She also directed the officials to work on the street lighting and defunct traffic lighting system."Status of solid waste management projects should be reviewed on daily basis as this is a serious health issue for the people at large," Asiea Naqash said. Emphasising on strict implementation of rule of law, without favouring to anyone, she directed officials to retrieve public spaces from encroachers and pedestrian pathways to allow better management of traffic.“Why should general public suffer because of the petty interest of some of the people in the system,” she said. The Minister called for better management of street vendors so that they earn their livelihood without creating traffic hassles and problems in movement of general public.Urging LAWDA officials to gear up for the encroachment drives, she said that it was high time to launch a campaign against massive encroachments in and around Dal Lake. She also urged VC LAWDA to clear newly constructed ghats from encroachers and also identify officials who gave permission for construction of the ghats on the historical boulevard. She also suggested additional manpower in LAWDA for smooth work.Later VC SDA, VC, LAWDA and Commissioner SMC also briefed the Minister about the ongoing projects and problems of the departments.