Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Apr 13: The High Level Coordination Committee (HLCC) which has been set up after the Governor and Chief Minister met recently to review issues relating to the orderly development of Katra town, met to finalise integrated plans for the development of Katra town and its surroundings.
The HLCC meeting, held at Katra, was chaired by Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development and involved the participation of Administrative Secretary of Tourism Department; Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, and Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu.
HLCC is charged to ensure integrated planning for the development of Katra Town and its surroundings, ensuring that all concerned agencies work in a coordinated manner to implement development schemes relating to Katra Town and the Swachh Iconic Places Scheme launched by the Government of India.
HLCC decided to prepare integrated plans for securing optimum sanitation and cleanliness of Katra Town and its surrounding areas. Recognising that Katra, the base town for pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, is visited by millions of pilgrims every year, it was agreed to evolve plans to provide high class sanitation, cleanliness and civic amenities in Katra Town.
At the suggestion of Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, HLCC decided to shortly organise a workshop involving all line departments, agencies and other stakeholders for eliciting suggestions for identifying and prioritising the civic requirements. It was decided that Ravinder Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, will hold a meeting with all the concerned departments to do the preparatory work.
HLCC also decided that Katra Town and its surrounding areas will be made completely polythene free by conducting regular drives against violations and also organising awareness campaigns. CEO 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.
Arun Kumar Sharma, Director Urban Local Bodies, Jammu, informed that for improving collection and transportation of garbage DPR of a project valuing Rs 3.5 crore has been sent to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) which is sponsoring agency under Swachh Iconic Places Scheme.
Shrine Board is soon 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.
Director Urban Local Bodies informed the meeting that two Water ATMs have been installed in Katra town for providing RO water to pilgrims at nominal rates.
Vishesh Mahajan, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu informed that a Concept Plan valuing Rs 50 crores for beautification of Katra Town, construction of parking places, construction of ornamental gates at Domel and development of open spaces has been sent to the Union Ministry of Tourism under the recently launched PRASAD scheme and a team of the Union Ministry has recently asked for preparation of DPRs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel