Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone, today convened a meeting to review implementation of District Development Board decisions and actions taken thereof.Director Tourism Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Officers from Education, Higher Education, Police, SDA, PHE, I&FC, Prisons, R&B, JKTDC, JKPCC, Sports Council, Health, SKIMS and other concerned attended the meeting.On the occasion, the DC was informed that in the year 2015, as many as 8 decisions were implement out of 14, while as rest are under implementation. Similarly in 2016, out of 18 decisions 5 were implemented and 12 are under implementation. Dr. Lone said that the summer capital needs focused attention vis-à-vis proper sewerage and drainage network, restoration of encroached public spaces to de-congest city center, improving connectivity by way of upgradation of roads, fortifying embankments and dredging of river Jhelum.Calling for complete synergy between various Departments involved in infrastructure building and implementation of various welfare schemes, the DC said he has ordered strict adherence to timelines for completion of all ongoing projects so that their benefits accrue to the people.
He observed that in view of the limited working season in Kashmir valley, work in double shifts on ongoing projects where adequate funding is available should be explored by the concerned executing agencies. He also directed the revenue officials to fast-track all land acquisition cases so that bottlenecks in widening of roads in the city are removed. The DC also reviewed skill development centers, especially in Shahr-e-Khaas, for promotion of handicrafts as well as artisans, whose nimble hands make the finest of products. Asking I&FC Department to expedite dredging and de-silting of river Jhelum on war footing basis, Dr. Lone said that he will personally monitor the pace of work. He also stressed on revival of water transport by starting river cruises, which can become a huge attraction for the visitors. On the issue of effective implementation of R-APDRP in Srinagar city, He directed PDD to immediately remove bottlenecks so that available resources under the Centrally-sponsored schemes are utilized without any further delay.
The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the thrust areas of Annual Plan 2016-17 which includes dredging and de-silting of river Jhelum and its spill-over channels, improving connectivity by macadamizing 500-km road length, early completion of Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh Expressway Corridor, widening of roads and construction of additional grade separators, completion of 11 under-construction bridges, de-congesting city for better traffic management, setting up housing colonies and community halls, laying of environment-friendly sewerage and drainage network for greater Srinagar city and ensuring that benefits of CSSs percolate to the intended beneficiaries. He directed the officers to submit the present status of all projects within fifteen days so that work on these projects can be monitored and completed within stipulated timeframe.