Srinagar, July 02: Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated a comprehensive plan to remove unauthorized structures on either side of the river Jhelum and other water channels flowing within Srinagar, Minister for Housing Ghulam Hassan Mir said today. Government was keen to beautify the city as the base camp for tourism in the Valley, Mir told a joint meeting of officials of lakes and waterways development authority and other local bodies.
He said every effort would be made to preserve the Jhelum river from illegal encroachers. A survey to identify illegal structures would be conducted soon. The process of rehabilitation of the affected families would be initiated after that. Mir asked the authorities to make necessary arrangements for developing a residential colony for rehabilitating the affected families as soon as the requisite survey was completed.
Mir emphasized the implementation of a centrally sponsored scheme under which people below poverty line could be benefitted and their immediate housing requirements met. This scheme, he said, envisages to provide shelter to about 200 affected families during the current year. A project cost of Rs 7 crore has been formulated for the purpose. Bureau Report