Srinagar heart of Kashmir:Mehbooba

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SRINAGAR:In a major announcement aimed at bringing about rapid growth of the two capital cities, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Saturday mooted separate Development Plans for Srinagar and Jammu districts, keeping in view the requirement for additional funds to create durable assets and ensure effective social sector spending.
She described Srinagar as Valleys heart and assured time-bound development of the summer capital, which received a major setback in the colossal floods of 2014. There is a need to shift to Capital City Plans as funding under District Plans has largely been incommensurate with the rapidly-expanding boundaries of Srinagar and Jammu cities, she observed.
The Chief Minister said this while chairing the District Development Board (DDB) meeting of Srinagar, here at SKICC today.
After deliberating for nearly six hours, the DDB headed by the Chief Minister, approved an Annual CAPEX Budget of Rs.100.29 crore for the year 2016-17.
In her maiden address as Chairman of DDB Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the summer capital will continue to receive focused attention vis-à-vis proper sewerage and drainage network, restoration of encroached public spaces to de-congest city centre, improving connectivity by way of upgradation of roads, fortifying embankments and dredging of river Jhelum so that the destruction inflicted by 2014 floods is not repeated.
Asking the Legislators to approach her in case of any delay in completion of projects, the Chief Minister said she is carrying forward the roadmap which her father had sketched for development of Srinagar city.
Mufti Saabs last assignment as Chief Minister was his tour of Srinagar on December 22 last year during which he visited several places and promised to restore its pristine glory. I am here to fulfill his vision and promises which he had made with the people, she added.
Referring to the rising population of capital cities and the corresponding requirement of better amenities, the Chief Minister said de-linking Srinagar and Jammu from District Plan funding pattern will go a long way in addressing the concerns of the people.
She directed the Finance Minister to devise a mechanism for conceiving separate Development Plans by taking into consideration the specific needs and demands of both the capital cities.

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