Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh today said the new Srinagar master plan is a comprehensive document that addresses all developmental need of the city, besides catering to every section of society.Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting convened to review the status of the Draft Master Plan Srinagar-2035 and to discuss suggestions and objections put forth by different quarters in this regard.Minister for Relief, Rehabilitation, Javaid Mustafa Mir, Minister for Education Altaf Bukhari, Minister of State for Housing, PDD, Asiea Naqash, Financial Commissioner, Housing and Urban Development, KB Agarwal, Secretary Irrigation & Flood control M Raju, Commissioner SMC, VC LAWADA, DC Srinagar and other senior officers were present in the meeting.On the onset of the meeting a team of officers from Town Planning Organization Kashmir involved in preparation of the Draft Master Plan Srinagar-2035 made a power point presentation detailing the project besides putting forth all areas of concern before the meeting.During the meeting, deliberate discussions were held to ensure balance between rapid urbanization and the requirements for sound implementation of master plan proposals, land use thereof and rapid unhindered and unfeasible growth of residential, commercial and institutional activities.
The meeting expressed reservations for shifting of a few establishments of heritage character as envisaged in the Draft Master Plan-2035. It was also discussed that for sound implementation of master plan proposals, areas notified under J&K Development Act, 1970 shall supersede all other Acts in particular J&K Agrarian Reforms/Revenue Act. Accordingly necessary modification to J&K Development Act, 1970 should be proposed to the Cabinet which shall have mention in the master plan proposals also.The Construction of Western Foreshore Road (partly existing) from Saida Kadal to Kohn Khan was also discussed and it was recommended that the construction of leftover portion of the said road shall be taken up on priority in addition to the missing broad links pre-requite for establishing a three tier Ring Road pattern as envisaged in the Draft Master Plan to mitigate all potential challenges of urban mobility. This was also emphasized that the construction of WFR would defeat the ingressions on Dal Lake by way of encroachment and pollution.It was further discussed that adequate steps are required to be taken for safety of city dwellers from floods especially of the kind witnessed in 2014. Accordingly stress was laid on the construction of a supplementary flood channel from Dogripora to Wullar Lake for which necessary directions were issued to I&FC department for early submission of the DPRs.Deputy Chief Minister while deliberating on the master plan policy framework passed directions to the Financial Commissioner, H&UDD for early finalization of objections and suggestions within two weeks. He said that we should show urgency for completion of the whole process involved in finalization of the master plan and complete it within shortest possible time for submission of final Master Plan to the cabinet for accord of approval.The Ministers also flagged certain issues and called for immediate incorporation into the draft besides undertaking modifications with regard to issues related to housing needs of the people of the city.