Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development, Asiea Naqash today said that the Government is committed to preserve unique cultural essence of historic Jamia Masjid in Downtown Srinagar. The Minister made these remarks during her visit to grand Mosque.The representatives of Jamia Market Traders Federation met the visiting dignitary and appraised various grievances to the Minister.Minister directed Commissioner SMC to improve sanitation drive, hygienic atmosphere besides install more streetlights around the Jamia Masjid area. She also instructed for repairing bathrooms, construction of women toilet block and askeds concerned officials to clear the chocked drains immediately so that devotees don’t face any inconvenience in visiting the religious place.She also directed SMC Commissioner to identify suitable place immediately so that urban poor vendors of Jamia Masjid will be properly rehabilitated.The Minister also took stock the construction work of Community Hall being executed near Jamia Masjid at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.87 crores.She directed the engineers to speed up the pace of construction work so that this hall will be open for the public convenience soon.
On the occasion, Minister said that Government had already spent Rs 3.93 crore out of the total Rs 4.29 crore Union Government’s project to beautify the Jamia Masjid premises including developing its market and improving light system and the construction of Information Center, which is a component of the beautification project, costing Rs 1.02 crore.Later, Minister visited interior areas of Rainawari and took stock of the developmental works being carried out there. Minister was informed that Rs 18 crores were allotted for drainage work in Rainawari area under AMRUT Scheme. Asiea directed engineers of UEED to start the construction work immediately before the onset of winters so that the locals get benefitted.She also visited Gurpora (Khushki) Mohalla and took stock of the construction work of Community Hall. The estimated cost of this Hall is Rs. 2 crores. Minister directed Housing department to complete the construction work immediately for the convenience of the locals.
While assuring the locals regarding speedy disposal of the ongoing works, Asiea told them that Government is committed to deliver high quality of civic amenities including a sustainable drainage network for the city as well as in Rainawari area and the funding under various Centrally and State sponsored schemes shall be spent with high accountability on the ground. Commissioner SMC Reyaz Ahmad Wani, Executive Engineer SMC Shafat Khan, SE LAWDA, SE PDD, SE R&B, Engineers of PHE, UEED, Housing Department and other concerned officers accompanied the Minister.