J-K CM directs to fast track rehabilitation of Dal dwellers

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reduced from five years to three years the time frame of the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Project for dwellers of the Dal Lake.
Omar directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to fast track the payment of compensation and allotment of land plots to the affected families at the identified sites.
Chairing a high level meeting to review the pace of progress on rehabilitation project for Dal Lake dwellers, the Chief Minister said at least 500 structures should be targeted to be paid compensation each year during the next three years along with providing plots to the affected families to complete the project by 2015-16.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister B B Vyas and other senior officials of the state government.
Omar asked the LAWDA to speed up the land filling at Rakh-e-Arth, where plots are being developed for rehabilitation of Dal dwellers.
He also directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to accelerate the pace on the process of finalising compensation and allotment of plots to the affected families.

Omar said necessary revenue staff should be placed on the job with clear directions to fast track the completion of revenue matters so that shifting of families from the Dal takes place smoothly.

In a power-point presentation, Vice Chairman LAWDA Irfan Yasin gave resume of the present status of land development at Rakh-e-Arth.
He said the project involves development cost of over Rs 416 crores while the acquisition of land and structures from inside Dal Lake and dredging of the Lake involves Rs 356 crores.
Yasin said out of 376 hectares of land made available for housing colony for Dal dwellers, 200 hectares would be under plots, 54 hectares under roads, eight hectares under commercial offices, 2.5 hectares under institutions, 22 hectares under nodal facilities and seven hectares under education and health facilities.

The remaining land will be used for wetlands, play fields, parks and incidental spaces, religious purpose, graveyards and sewerage treatment facilities.