SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today impressed upon the officers of the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) to come up with a comprehensive policy for meeting the housing needs of the urban population of the UT, especially that of the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
Dr Mehta was speaking in a meeting to review the progress of flagship schemes implemented by the Department here.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, H&UDD; Commissioner SMC; Commissioner JMC besides other concerned officers of the Department.
The Chief Secretary observed that since population of the urban areas is increasing fast, there is significant rise in demand for housing in cities. He stated that it is imperative on the part of the Department to be alive to this aspect of urban management. He called for saturating the housing demands under PMAY (U) for the benefit of urban poor.
He made out that the unplanned construction of houses in cities is putting lot of pressure on the already shrinking land resources. In view of it, the Department has the added responsibility of providing affordable and planned housing provisions to people in urban areas. He asked for identifying suitable land for vertical development in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.
Dr Mehta also stressed on further improving the ranks of these cities in terms of cleanliness. He expressed the hope that in the upcoming rankings of the cities, both Srinagar and Jammu would fare better and figure amongst cleanest cities of the country.
He stressed on completing all the drainage and sewerage projects forthwith for enhancing the hygienic conditions in and around the city parts. He advised for exploring the possibility of generating electricity from the STPs to make them self sustainable waste treatment units.
While taking cognizance of the developmental projects he stressed on completing them on time. Regarding the AMRUT 1.0 he asked for finishing the remaining few projects in a month, besides directing that the projects under AMRUT 2.0 be tendered out in a time bound manner.
As far as the Smart City projects in the twin cities are concerned the Chief Secretary asked for enhancing the men and machinery even in night shifts. He underscored that all of these projects are aimed at improving the aesthetics or beautification of these cities so deserves to be executed with all prudence and urgency for all to see and explore it.
He asked for completing the beautification works of Lal Chowk in the first week of August itself, improvement and upgradation of Foreshore Road and Chuntkul by ending August and Riverfront by September this year.
In Jammu he asked for dedicating the redeveloped Apsara Road to public by 15th of August, Tawi River front with its pondage by the end of this month and take up development of Gandhi Nagar rotary forthwith for enhancing the beauty of this city.
