New developmental plan on anvil for beautification of Lal Chowk: Bukhari

Minister for Education Altaf Bukhari chairing a meeting in Srinagar on Saturday.
Minister for Education Altaf Bukhari chairing a meeting in Srinagar on Saturday.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 29: Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, today directed for formulating a modern developmental plan for Lal Chowk that will take care of all its basic needs and will lead to its becoming a centre of attraction for locals and tourists alike.
The Minister was speaking at a meeting held to review the pace of developmental work in the Amira Kadal Constituency. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, VC SDA, Director Education, Chief Engineers of R&B, IFC and PDD, Commissioner SMC and other officials.
The Minister directed for constituting a committee comprising of officials from SDA, SMC, R&B and other experts, who will form a modern developmental plan for Lal Chowk. He said that the new plan will take care of all the needs of roads, footpath, open spaces, beautification, electricity, etc., adding that the new and developed Lal Chowk will emerge as a center of attraction for locals and tourists alike.
On the occasion, the Minister was briefed about various developmental works underway in the constituency that will ease difficulties of people in a major way. The Commissioner SMC informed the Minister that while 71 various developmental works have been completed some 31 number of works are currently ongoing in the Constituency.
While directing the concerned to expedite the ongoing works on various parks, stadiums and public places, the Minister said that night lighting facility will be installed at the Polo View Ground. He also said that a park will be built adjacent to the Sangarmall Shopping Complex here.
With regard to threat from floods in the city, the Minister said that dredging work in River Jhelum will be expedited to minimize the risk of floods. He issued directions for clearing the flood channel of encroachments and trees within the next 15 days. Bukhari said that since the Amira Kadal Constituency was the worst hit during the September 2014 floods special attention was needed to restore its glory.
Bukhari also reviewed the status of rehabilitation of people being shifted due to road widening and asked all sectoral officers to ensure availability of basic amenities to the people by way of augmentation of infrastructure in their respective areas.
On the occasion, the officers of the Education Department were asked to chalk out a comprehensive proposal for creation and reorientation of separate educational zones for all the eight constituencies in Srinagar.
The meeting also discussed the status of creation of receiving station at Hari Nambal ground at Natipora, laying of essential electricity line for the dewatering station at Mehjoor Nagar, improvement in LT network at Hari Singh High Street, Saraibala, Goni Khan and Maharaja Bazar, status of erection of tubular poles and replacement of damaged conductor wires in the Constituency. Besides, discussions were also held on creation of sub-stations at Chinar Colony Mehjoor Nagar, Dar Mohalla Ram Bagh and Bank Colony Rawalpora, status of maintenance of street lights, especially high mass lights, installed by the PDD in the entire Constituency.