J&K soon to have comprehensive housing policy: Jora

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Jammu and Kashmir State will soon announce a comprehensive housing policy with main focus on construction of high rise group housing colonies and due share for the people belonging to Lower Income Group (LIC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the society.
This was stated by the Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora while replying to the debate on demand of grants for the departments under his charge in the Legislative Assembly this afternoon.
The Minister said that to provide affordable housing facilities to the people in two capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir and major towns, the Government has started construction of a chain of housing flats, adding that one such colony named Gulposh is being developed in Bemina Srinagar whereas three flat type housing colonies are being constructed in Muthi and Ghandhi Nagar, Jammu. He said in view of the scarcity of land in cities, Government has switched over to construction of high rise housing colonies for the needy people on affordable prices, adding that the demand for such accommodation is increasing every passing day.
He said in order to provide improved civic amenities to the people, Government has established on-line Grievance Redressal Cell in the Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar.
The Minister said that the proposal for construction of multi-level parking at General Bus Stand Jammu involving estimated cost of Rs. 130 crore under EPC mode has been finalized and tenders invited, adding that construction of bus stands at Shalteng and Katra has been taken up for execution at the total cost of Rs. 38.17 crore besides development of bus addas in the State taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 31 crore. He said that construction work of 1015 lanes / surface drains is under execution worth Rs. 18 crore.
The Minister said that 6 projects related to Multi Tier Parking and construction of Express Way Corridors and Flyovers for Jammu and Srinagar cities worth Rs. 564 crore stand submitted to the Centre for funding under JNURM. He said RRY scheme for providing subsidized housing loan to the houseless families has also been launched in the state.
Jora said a comprehensive mobility plan for Srinagar city at an estimated cost of Rs.20,000 crores has been finalized and comprehensive mobility plan for Jammu city at an estimated cost of 12000 crore is nearing finalization. He said timeline for development of Satellite Township at Rakh-i-Gund Aksha has been finalized adding that colonies for economically weaker sections at Paloura, Udhaywalla, Sumarbagh-Bemina and Noorbagh are under development.
He said the revised master plans for Jammu and Srinagar cities are at final stage of completion whileas master plans of Kupwara, Budgam, Acchabal, Kokernag, Baramulla, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Sopore and Katra have been finalized.
Mr. Jora said that 108 projects worth Rs. 1312 crore for roads, sewerage, drainage, water supply and providing of dwelling units to urban poor are under execution in the state, adding that sewerage projects Phase-I of Jammu and Phase-III of Srinagar have been taken up for execution at the total estimated cost of Rs. 262.15 crore. He said that construction work of water supply schemes Sukhnag and Tangnar for Srinagar city has been taken up at the total estimated cost of Rs. 269.27 crore and these are in advance stages of completion. He said 150 buses purchased under urban transport JNURM have been placed at the disposal of SRTC.
The Minister said that Rs. 356 crore have been sanctioned for payment of compensation to the slum dwellers of Dal and Nigeen lakes under PMRP adding that rehabilitation of slum dwellers of Dal and Nigeen lakes at Rakh-i-Arth is in process. He said 1000 plots have been developed and are being allotted to dislocated Dal dwellers. He said drainage projects / schemes worth Rs. 490 crore are under execution in urban areas of the state.
The Minister also gave details about several reforms taken for overall development of the towns of the state.
Earlier, the Minister moved a demand for a sum of Rs.1198.40 crore to be granted to the Government to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2015 for departments and PSUs under his charge.
Later, the concerned members withdrew their cut motions after getting satisfactory reply from the Minister.
The House, later, passed the grants by a voice vote.

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