The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, today directed the officers to speed up the pace of work undertaken under various developmental initiatives of Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) in the Kashmir Division by taking up them in a mission mode.The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing officers during a review meeting of HUDD in order to get the requisite information about the execution of various centrally sponsored schemes, flagship programmes, Capex budget and other schemes here today.Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Department, Ms Asiea Naqash was also present in the meeting.Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, Mr. Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioners of Jammu, Srinagar Municipal Corporations, Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, Managing Director Housing Board, Chief Engineer UEED, General Manager NBCC and other senior officers were present in the meeting.Dr. Singh while reviewing pace of implementation of the various projects being undertaken under AMRUT programme directed for early completion of these works maintaining that these should be regularly monitored so that the pace of work can be gauged and necessary instructions given for their speedy completion. He said that the scheme has been instrumental in changing the urban landscape in several states of the country and have to ensure that the people of the region get benefited from this developmental initiative.
He said that the scheme is being implemented in five towns of the State and 85 projects have been sanctioned out of which DPRs of 80 stand prepared and 53 have been tendered.He also directed for speeding up the work on the multi-story parking being constructed at Old KMD Bus Stand maintaining that it would go a long way in solving the parking problem of the commercial hub of the Kashmir Division. He also called for speedy completion of the other parking facilities being constructed at Press Colony and Sheikh Bagh as well.The Deputy Chief Minister also asked for speeding up the restoration work on the Brari-Nambal Lagoon in the Old City Srinagar maintaining that it is essential for maintaining the ecology of the area. He also directed to take up the deweeding of the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies of the region.While directing the officers to ensure the speedy completion of the works related to the drainage and de-silting works, he said that we have to see that they are completed within the stipulated time lines. He said that their completion is essential in order to check the water logging and other related issued of the city and the towns.He also asked for preparation of the requisite bar charts about the implementation of various programmes so that their status of implementation can be regularly monitored and the necessary measures undertaken for removing the bottlenecks, if any.He said for timely execution of various developmental programmes concerned Departments should maintain a synergy among themselves.
While asking for taking the effective measures for successful implementation of Swach Bharat Mission (SBM), the Deputy Chief Minister said that the officers should ensure that every town, village of the State is declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) by December 2017. He said that we have to ensure that the programme which is being personally monitored by the Prime Minister is a success.He also directed the officers of NBCC to complete the sewerage project being undertaken by them within the shortest possible time maintaining that it would ensure the redressal of the sewerage problem being faced by the people in the State. He said that they should maintain a regular liaison with the concerned departments of the State for the early completion of the project.Dr. Sigh also asked for undertaking the necessary measures for making the Housing for All (HAL) a success. He said that the scheme promises dwelling units for the urban poor by providing them affordable housing facilities within the city limits and it has been game changer in various states of the country.He also stressed for speeding up the initiatives undertaken under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) maintaining that the scheme is of utmost importance in imparting skills to the youth of the State.The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development also addressed the meeting and asked for speeding up the implementation of developmental initiatives in Kashmir Division.