Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 17: In order to de-congest Srinagar city, the Government has approved extension of the city by 341square kilometers.
Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department in its status report before the High Court disclosed that State Cabinet has already approved extension of area for Srinagar City from 416 to 757 Sq. Km in the revised Master Plan, Srinagar.
“The proposed Master Plan includes sufficient areas for residential, commercial, public use, transportation, preservation of eco-sensitive areas, protection of water bodies and agricultural land”, says the report.
Court has also been apprised that Master Plan for the City is being revised and prepared for the year 2012-32 and the same is being published for inviting suggestion and objections.
“After receiving the suggestions, modification, same, wherever required, will be considered in public interest and thereafter proposed Master Plan will be placed before the State Cabinet for final approval”, reads the report.
Report further states that some new residential areas have been added in the proposed Master Plan for the year 2012-32, which includes Mujgund, Saidpora, Gulab Bagh, Batpora, Zewan Dangerpora, Gobarbaug, Chainbal, Soibug, Chech Mohalla and Khushipora etc”.
It has also been submitted before the court that idea for setting up of ‘Satellite Township’ at Rakh-i-Aksha Srinagar has been conceived by Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and 15000 dwelling units have been estimated to cater the requirements of the society.
“The number of dwelling units have been estimated at 15000, which are to be classified and identified in different economic categories of the society, having low income, middle income, high income and economically weaker sections of the society to cater the requirements of these categories of the society”, adds the report.
Keeping in view all these developments and suggestions, Division Bench comprising Justice MH Attar and Justice B L Bhat directed the Commissioner and Vice Chairman SDA to energetically follow the proposed Master Plan as also for construction of ‘Satellite Township’ and inform the court in this regard on next date.
“The Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, as also Vice Chairperson, SDA, are directed to vigorously pursue the proposed draft Mater Plan as also plan for construction of Satellite Township. The authorities shall inform the court before the next date of hearing as to what further steps have been taken for accomplishing the aforementioned purposes”, directed the bench.