Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Satpal Sharma today directed the officers to come up with a comprehensive policy by which the people can be provided quality housing facilities at an affordable price.The Minister was addressing a review meeting of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) here today. Vice-Chairman SDA, Abdul Majid Raina and other senior officers of the district administration were also present on the occasion.While reviewing the pace of several ongoing developmental projects, Minister directed the officials to ensure that these are completed within the stipulated time. He said that the same is necessary to check the cost escalations besides providing the people much needed housing facilities.Sat Sharma while directing for maintaining the inventory of the land assets said that the same is necessary to check the encroachment of the same.He said that the enforcement wing of the authority should be proactive to ensure that the encroachment is arrested and the necessary action is initiated against the violators.The minister while reviewing the pendency of court cases, directed for early disposal of these. He said that the officers should proactively pursue the same before different fora.Sat Sharma said that in view of the increasing pressure on the land resources, the authority should also concentrate on development of vertical structures which should also be taken alongside the traditional land colonies so that the land is properly utilized in a more scientific manner.
He also called for development of public spaces and parks in the area which comes under the mandate of the development authority.The meeting was informed that 32 apartments in two blocks of the first vertical residential Gulposh apartments being constructed by SDA have been completed and 60 apartments in three blocks are being taken up in the second phase of the Self-Financing Project. It was also given out that the work on 532 Shehjar apartments being constructed on Self Financing basis at Bemina has been started and would be completed soon. Similarly, the remaining work in the prestigious Sangermal project is being taken up for development through other departments and also in PPP mode. The work on multi level parking being developed at Sheikh Bagh and Old SMG Lalchowk with an estimated cost of Rs 55 crore and having an intake capacity of 430 and 467 vehicles under AMRUT is in full swing. It was also given out that the work on Rs 5 crore idle parking at Pantha Chowk being undertaken under AMRUT and three-storey shopping complex at Bemina is expected to be completed and handed over in June this year.It was also given out that 2400 shops have been developed by the authority in different shopping complexes like Yemberzal, Iqbal Shopping Complex Lalchowk, Plaza Complex Hazuri Bagh, Jhelum Complex Batamaloo besides shop lines have also been constructed at many places including Nallamaar, Wazir Bagh, Sanat Nagar Bemina.