People’s Democratic Party (PDP) General Secretary and former MLA, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Sunday chaired a meeting of party workers in which several issues related to the development of Chrar-e-Sharief town were discussed threadbare.The meeting was attended by several senior party leaders including Nazir Itoo and District Youth President Budgam.In a statement to KNS, the workers urged state government to confer proprietary rights to 800 families, which were rehabilitated in the Alamdaar Colony, after the devastating fire razed their ancestral houses in 1995.They also expressed concern over the near abandonment of the Chrar-e-Sharief Development Project, as no funds have been earmarked by the H&UDD to execute works related to construction of shopping complex, drains, sanitation and lavatory blocks. With the result, the old town has been left without access to basic amenities, which has created several hardships for the people.
Keeping in view the significant place the town occupies due to the holy shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA), the workers called for earmarking of adequate funds by J&K Wakf Board to speed up pace of work on creating required infrastructure for devotees, who pay obeisance at the shrine in large numbers.It was given out in the meeting that since Smart City Projects have been conceived for capital cities, it was equally important to prioritize development of major towns where people also have access to basic amenities. For this, they demanded strengthening of local body institutions by people’s participation, which can be ensured only by holding local self-government elections.
The meeting also urged the Government to flag the issues of macadamization of internal roads, proper drainage system, and scientific disposal of garbage, besides regular water and power supply and healthcare facilities in all major towns of the state.The workers also expressed complete faith and confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, to carry forward the party agenda. They also pledged unstinted support to senior Cabinet Minister and local MLA, Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjoora).Earlier, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, paid obeisance at the holy shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) and prayed for peace, prosperity and harmony in the state. (KNS)