Srinagar, May 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reviewed the roadmap presented by the Housing and Urban Development Department for effecting comprehensive urban development reforms in urban management sector at a high level meeting held here today.
 The meeting was attended by  the Deputy Chief Minister,   Tara Chand, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs,   Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs,   Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control,   Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development,   Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary,   S. S. Kapur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,   Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary, Planning,   B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary, Finance,   Sudhanshu Panday, Commissioner Secretary Housing,   Suresh Kumar, Director Information, Kh. Farooq Ahmad Renzu, and other senior officers of Housing and Urban Development.
 The Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department gave a detailed presentation about the roadmap for bringing such reforms in managing Urban Sector including Municipal Committees and Local Bodies so that it is brought in tune with other local urban bodies of metropolitan cities of the country.
 Issuing directions for setting up monthly targets for progress of reforms,   Abdullah asked the Deputy Chief Minister, who is the incharge Housing and Urban Development Department and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Dev to review the progress on monthly basis. Besides, Chief Minister himself alongwith Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Finance, Minister for Law, Minister for PHE, Minister for Revenue and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development will review the progress after every three months.
 He directed to take immediate steps for capacity building in the Municipal Corporation and Urban Local Bodies. It was proposed in the meeting to hire consultant for reviewing existing Urban Planning Acts, prepare state accounting manual, e-governance and also prepare a Master plan for Srinagar and Jammu cities.
 It was decided to constitute a high level committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to finalize engagement of consultant. Members of the Committee would include Commissioner Secretary, Planning, Commissioner Secretary, Finance and Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department. This Committee will monitor the progress on monthly basis.
 The reforms which have been proposed include transfer of functional control of city level services like sanitation, sewerage, education, health, Urban, Planning, Urban Forestry and land use control to the Urban local Bodies.
 It was also proposed to set up two state level Directorates for Urban Development and Urban planning.
 The Chief Minister directed for preparation of a monthly calendar to implement all proposed reforms in a phased manner. He also advised the concern department to consult concerned legislators so that their viable suggestions are also sought while implementing these reforms.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 IST