STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday laid the foundation for infrastructure and river conservation projects worth over Rs 190 crore across Srinagar and Budgam districts, marking a significant push towards urban transformation and environmental sustainability.
Spanning five constituencies, the projects focus on urban beautification, pollution abatement of the Jhelum River, and advanced sewerage treatment infrastructure for Doodh Ganga, reflecting the Government’s commitment to improving civic amenities, enhancing climate resilience, and restoring water bodies.
At Rainawari, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of BAB-UL-SULTAN-UL-ARIFEEN, a landmark city gateway featuring artistic calligraphy at Rainawari Chowk. Executed by PW (R&B) at a cost of Rs 130 lakh, the project aims to enhance the aesthetic and cultural identity of the historic locality.
He said the gateway would not only beautify the area but also highlight its spiritual and cultural significance.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation of a major environmental initiative at Brari-Nambal Munawarabad for Pollution Abatement and Conservation of River Jhelum at Chuntikul and Gowkadal. The project, under the Housing & Urban Development Department,, will be executed by UEED at a cost of Rs 7090.68 lakh. It includes the establishment of an 8 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to significantly reduce untreated discharge into the river.
At the same venue, the Chief Minister laid the foundation for two major sewage treatment projects under H&UDD (UEED) to curb pollution in Doodh Ganga – a 14 MLD STP at Aloochi-Bagh, Srinagar (Rs 5060.47 lakh), and a 6 MLD STP at Mochua, Budgam (Rs 6772.32 lakh) to treat dry weather flow from Chadoora to Baghi-i-Mehtab – significantly strengthening wastewater management and environmental protection in the area.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that although projects worth nearly Rs 200 crore across five constituencies would ordinarily warrant a large public function, the programme was deliberately kept modest in view of the holy month of Ramzan.
“If we had organised this programme some other time, it would have been garnered huge public participation. But keeping Ramzan in mind, we did not want to cause inconvenience to people, nor delay projects for which the public has been waiting impatiently,” he said.
Highlighting the pressure on the Housing & Urban Development Department and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, he said drainage, sewerage, roads, parks and development of new colonies fall under their mandate.
“Our two capital cities, Srinagar and Jammu, create the first impression of Jammu and Kashmir. Tourists arrive here first. Millions of residents live here. It is our responsibility to ensure the infrastructure in cities reflects the development of this region.”
The Chief Minister stressed that inadequate drainage and sewerage systems often result in waterlogging after even brief rainfall.
“It rains for one hour and the whole city is under water. This must change. whether through Central schemes, UT Capex, District Capex or new funding schemes like SASCI, our effort is to upgrade Srinagar’s infrastructure comprehensively.”
Referring to changing climate patterns, he said rainfall distribution has become increasingly erratic.
“We may not see rain for months, and then receive six months’ rain in three days. Instead of water