* 6 more Water ATMs for pilgrims to be installed
Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, June 29: The 2nd meeting of the High Level Coordination Committee (HLCC) which has been set up for preparing a holistic plan for the development of Katra town, held at the Spiritual Growth Centre here to review the to-date status in regard to finalise integrated plans for the development of Katra town and its surroundings.
The review meeting was held as a follow up of the decisions taken in the meeting held between the Governor and the Chief Minister on February 17, 2017 in connection with the future infrastructure development of Katra town and its surrounding areas as well as the initiatives being taken under Swachh Iconic Places Scheme under which Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has been selected as one among only 10 Iconic Places identified in the country for its infrastructure development and sanitation.
Hirdesh Kumar, Commissi-oner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, chaired the meeting. Those who participated in the deliberations included A. K. Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Ravinder Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; and Arun Kumar Sharma, Director Local Bodies, Jammu; members of the HLCC; besides Anshul Garg, Additional CEO Shrine Board; Smita Sethi, Director Tourism, Jammu; H. H. Dutt, Joint Director (P&S), Housing and Urban Development Department; Dr. Arvind Karwani, Dy. CEO SMVDSB; Sumir Kotwal, Additional SP, Katra; General Manager, Regional Office, IOCL, Chandigarh; and other concerned officers and engineers of various departments.
Commissioner Housing and Urban Development Department directed the officers of Municipal Committee, Katra for ensuring high class sanitation and cleanliness in Katra town and making it a model of being the most neat and clean town as millions of pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi from all over the country and beyond throng Katra every year.
He also asked the Deputy Commissioner Reasi for preparing holistic plans by taking into its fold all the ongoing development schemes as well as those in the pipeline of various departments for ensuring integrated development and provision of civic amenities in Katra and its surrounding areas.
The HLCC meeting expressed satisfaction at the functioning of the 2 Water ATMs already installed in Katra town and decided to put in place 6 more Water ATMs for providing RO water to pilgrims and other visitors at nominal rates.
CEO of the Shrine Board informed that for efficient collection of garbage in Katra town an underground bin system the first such in J&K will soon be installed. He added that 10 locations have been identified for the purpose. He further informed that the Shrine Board is also shortly commencing work to install attractive railing along the central verge of the roads leading to Katra town; construct a circular road from Hansali via Bhumika Mandir to Panthal Road; reconstruct the old Darshani Deodi; install play equipments for children at Kundrorian Park (near Railway Station) and undertake other identified works worth Rs. 650 lakh.
The HLCC also took stock of the progress on preparing of DPRs for various projects to be taken up in Katra town for construction and upgradation of lanes and drains, improvement of internal roads, solid waste and waste water management, power and water supply as well as improving other civic amenities.
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