Old City prime attraction of State: Drabu

SRINAGAR: Minister for Finance, Culture and Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb A Drabu today informed the House that the Government is committed to restore the pristine glory of Shehri-e-Khaas Srinagar, which he termed as the prime attraction of the State.

Replying to a question by Mr Ali Muhammad Sagar, the Finance Minister said that various development projects are underway and Government is keen to turn Shehri-e- Khaas as hub of tourism activities.

The Minister said that State has three distinct geographical regions-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh adding that every region has its own distinct characteristic and potential.

“Equitable and balanced development of all the areas is overriding objective of the Government,” Dr Drabu said. “All the policies of the Government are directed towards the attainment of these objectives,” he said.

The Minister further said that process and institutions have also been put in place to promote and achieve balanced development of all the areas of the State. “Government wouldn’t allow any difference with any area of the State,” he said.

Giving details about various development projects and schemes, Dr Drabu said that under Dastigeer Sahab Development Expansion Project works on  Masjid with an estimated cost of Rs 9.50 crore were taken up and against this Rs 8 crore have been expanded by March 2016. He said that the structure work has been completed.

The Minister said that under Syed Mirak Shah Road Project (SMSRP), the acquisition   process from Dalgate to Habbak having a length of 10.33 kms has been estimated to a cost of Rs. 336 crore, involving acquisition of around 332 structures.

“The process of acquisition has been taken up in hand in the sectors from Khonakhan to Nowpora, Nowpora to Khanyar to Rainawari in Phase I,” he said. He said however during the 2015-16, an amount of Rs 7crore has been released to the collector under SADP for settling the claims of the House owners whose structures have been acquired and removed.

The Minister said the under Martyr’s Graveyard and Naqashbandh Sahib Development Project, an expenditure of Rs 4 crore has  been made on the development of the shrine. He said that illumination facility to heritage market at Zaina Kadal has been provided. He said that LAWDA has framed a project for conservation/ cleaning of Brari Nambal Lagoon, costing Rs 71.60 crore and submitted to Housing and Urban Development Department for funding.

The Minister said that the construction of New Zaina Kadal Bridge is approved under CRF. He said  funds to the tune of Rs 8.31 crore have been made available to the executing agency.

He said that the widening of road from Aali Kadal to Nawa Kadal (Jamalatta) and from Aali Kadal to Rajouri Kadal via Sokalipora is a part of Circular Road Project. The Minister informed that the work of Khankahi Moulla beautification and development expansion project is in progress.

He said that the Jhelum Beautification Project Phase-I with an estimated cost of Rs 10.17 crore has been completed. He said that the Phase-II has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 9.71 crore against which an amount of Rs 3.06 crore  is  been incurred upto last financial year and Rs 1 crore are proposed to be utilized on the project during current financial year.

The Minister said that construction of City Entry Gate Project is allotted for an amount of Rs 93 lakhs and 50 percent work has been completed. He said there were some contractual issues which stand resolved by Srinagar Municipal Corporation and project is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.

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