Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 24: Continuing with his public-outreach initiative, Minister for R&B, Gardens & Parks and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, today, visited interior areas of Mehjoor Nagar, Kursoo and Rajbagh to get firsthand account of the people’s problems on account of basic facilities including roads, drainage, potable water and power supply.
The places visited by the Minister included the worst hit residential areas of the Amirakadal Constituency in September 2014 floods.
Besides MLA Anjum Fazili, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Chief Engineer R&B, R.K Razdan, senior officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Irrigation and Flood Control, PHE, PDD, CA&PD, Revenue and other departments accompanied the Minister.
While inspecting construction site of a bridge, connecting Mehjoor Nagar with Jawahar Nagar, the Minister was informed that Rs. 42 crore are being spent on this project including two grade-separators at TRC. The Minister instructed concerned engineers to restore the foot-bridge which has been damaged in the last year’s floods so that the students and old aged persons get easy and nearest road connectivity. He asked them to restore this important connectivity on temporary basis immediately till the bridge is completed and thrown open for public.
During the visit a large number of men and women met the Minister and demanded early black-topping of roads, construction of drains, upgradation of lanes, replacement of old electric poles and wires, construction of community halls besides restoration of services affected during last years’ floods. The Minister instructed concerned engineers to conduct survey of these areas and frame projects so that funds could be arranged accordingly.
The people also complained about discrepancies in disbursement of flood relief among the affected people of these areas. The Minister instructed the revenue officers to re-assess the issues and address the grievances of the complainants early.
The Minister instructed the authorities of I&FC and SMC to deploy heavy dewatering pumps in Kursoo and other water logged areas to drain out the stagnant water before it becomes cause of any epidemic.
Follow our WhatsApp channel