Rs 8,300 Cr plan for development of Jammu,Srinagar cities:Minister

Jammu, Jan 24 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated a comprehensive development plan costing Rs 8,300 crore to make the twin capitals -- Jammu and Srinagar -- the model cities of the state, a minister today said.

Housing, Urban Development and Forests Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, while replying to the discussion on grants for departments under his ministry in legislative assembly, said a comprehensive developmental plan costing more than Rs 8,300 crore had been formulated to address the needs of towns and the capital cities of the state.

The Central govenment has approved funding for the capital cities and towns at 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan ratio, Mr Afzal informed the House.

On Dal Dwellers' Rehabilitation Project, the minister said work was launched at a cost of Rs 191 crore and under Phase-i 3,300 kanals were being developed for the purpose.

''Till now 1,230 families have been shifted from Dal area and rehabilitated at eight colonies,'' he said.

The state government, he said, has put up a proposal to the Union government requesting another package of Rs 323 crore for Dal development.

Mr Afzal said various measures had been set in place for the development and beautification of towns and cities of the state.

''For the development of model town Charar-E-Sharief, a project at the cost of Rs 25.16 crore is in hand, which is likely to be completed in next two years.'' UNI