Srinagar– The Master plan preparation for Sonamarg shall commence after the extended local area for the same was notified by the Tourism Department, Chief Town Planner (CTP) Kashmir has said.
In an affidavit filed before the J&K and Ladakh High Court in compliance to directions seeking steps initiated for revising or drafting the new Master Plan and the timeline for finalization of same, the CTP, Belkies Jeelani, submitted that the matter regarding the preparation/ revision of the Master Plan for the Tourism Development Authorities was taken up with the Commissioner/Secretary to government Tourism department vide a communication on 16 November 2024.
“The Tourism Department shall notify the extended area, if any, of Sonamarg Development Authority in the first instance and thereafter the Town Planning Organisation will start the Preparation of the Master Plan for Sonamarg.”
The officer also gave the procedure and the time lines for formulation of GIS based Master plan Sonamarg 2025-45, stating that the Master plan preparation shall commence after the extended local area for Master plan Sonamarg is notified by the tourism department after consultation with various stakeholders.
The officer said the KML file delineating the tentative local area proposed to be notified stands already conveyed to the tourism department for comments/vetting and forwarding of KML files of all Khasra numbers of areas proposed/existing in the local area of SDA.
The Town planning Organisation, she said, shall be providing the technical guidance for the preparation of Sonamarg Master
“The RFP shall be prepared taking feedback from various stakeholders like Forest department, Wildlife department being in the vicinity of forest and wildlife areas and Revenue Deptt, Remote Sensing Department etc, for inviting technical and financial bids from consultants for preparation of Master plan on outsource basis.”
Once the local area is notified and funds are made available through HUDD, the officer said, technical and financial bids will be invited from reputed consultants having expertise in preparation of such Master plans as per the requirements listed in the RFP.
“The Project shall be awarded to the consultants based on the QCBS method,” the officer said, adding, “The preparation of Draft Master Plan Sonamarg 25-2045 shall be prepared using latest technologies and high resolution imageries.”
The Draft Master Plan shall be put in public domain by the Tourism department for a period of 60 days for seeking objections or suggestions from various stakeholders and the general public as per the provisions prescribed in J&K Development Act-1970, the officer said.
“The objections/suggestions received shall be examined by the board constituted by the Govt.”
The final Master Plan, the officer said, shall be framed after incorporating the recommendations of the committee and shall be submitted to the government for its approval.
So far as a timeline was concerned, the officer said that it was for the Tourism department to finalize the boundaries and thereafter the Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir will provide the technical support, “for that it will take at least minimum one year for its completion subject to stages being completed within their respective time lines.”
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