First ever apartment comes up in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 12 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to develop flats to meet the shortage of accommodation in the summer capital, and constructed a first ever apartment in the city, an official spokesman said today.

This is for the first time an apartment has been constructed in Kashmir as earlier flats were built for official purposes only.

Similar apartments are coming up at other places as well to meet the shortage of accommodation in view of influx of people from rural to urban areas in the Valley.

These flats would be provided to all the categories, including the economically weaker sections, the spokesman added.

He said state Housing and Urban Development and Forest Minister Tariq Ahmad Kara yesterday allotted the flats in Gulposh Apartment at Bemina on the city outskirts.

In all, the spokesman said 32 flats were allotted through draw of lots from 101 applications which were received earlier by the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).

Out of these, 26 flats were allotted under the general category while six under the reserved quota, he added.

The spokesman said the Gulposh Apartment has been constructed at a total cost of Rs 3.26 crore.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the concept of developing flats seemed meaningful in dealing the increase demand for accommodation besides persistent sewage and drainage problem in the Srinagar city.

UNI