Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Asiea Naqash said that the government is committed to protect and preserve all water bodies in the Valley, including the ones in the City.The Minister said this while reviewing the progress of various drainage and sewerage schemes undertaken by SMC, UEED, LAWDA and SDA for the capital city.Giving the breakup of various ongoing works in Water Storm Drainage Scheme (WSDS) under AMRUT, the Minister was informed in Lal Chowk WSDS is getting constructed at a cost of Rs 10.68 crore, while the Indira Nagar WSDS is getting constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21.03 crore. She was informed Mala Bagh Phase-I WSDS was getting constructed at Rs 8.49 crores, Gangbugh WSDS at Rs 11.93 crore, while as Shalteng WSDS’s estimated cost is Rs 55.26 crore. It was revealed that under World Bank project, 49 new de-watering pump stations at an estimated cost of Rs 52 crores will be constructed in the city soon which will resolve the inundation problem in low lying areas. The Minister directed the engineers to speed up the pace of work and finish these projects in a time-bound manner so that the habitants of the city will be benefitted.
She further impressed upon the concerned to take extra caution for the protection and conservation of Dal Lake, Anchar Lake, Gilsar, Khushal Sar, Hokersar and other water bodies in the city because the government is committed to preserve them for future generation.Asiea directed the officers to take adequate action to remove all encroachments around the water bodies without any further delay and also take up demarcation of the land to check encroachments.As a CM commitment, she directed engineers to finish the pending drainage work of Parimpora Adda on the priority basis for the benefit of commuters. The Minister also reviewed the functioning of various Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).The Minister asked officers to prepare vision document of drainage & sewerage schemes within two months which will help to build Srinagar in a Smart City category.Commissioner SMC, Superintending Engineer Drainage SMC, Chief Engineer UEED, VC SDA, Engineers of LAWDA and other concerned officers were present at the meeting.