Baramulla, June 19: The district administration Baramulla has mooted a plan to decongest the old town Baramulla by shifting and subsequently rehabilitating 80 households to another area. The administration would later dismantle the houses and construct three major roads in the area.
 “The estimated cost of the plan is around Rs 25 cores and the status paper has been prepared and subsequently sent to the Government for approval,” chief planning officer Baramulla, Abdul Gani Malik told Greater Kashmir.
 According to the plan, three roads would be constructed at Tawheed Gunj, Bunglow Bagh and Iqbal Colony.
 “Soon after the plan is approved, we will identify suitable land for the families,” District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, Basher Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.
 The decongestion of the old town had been a long pending demand of the residents. Though the plans for the decongestion of the area gained momentum after the 2005 devastating earthquake, but the authorities failed to give it a practical shape.
 “The old town is the most neglected area. The inhabitants had been demanding proper drainage and proper health care system, but the successive regimes have failed to address their grievances,” the locals told Greater Kashmir. 
 A recent survey conducted by the Municipal Council Baramulla declared the old town and the Khanpora Baramulla as a slum area. The survey was conducted for a centrally sponsored scheme Integrated Slum development programme.  The survey found that the area had no proper drainage system and two to three families were residing under one roof.
 “The decongestion plan if implemented in letter and spirit will ensure a better life for the neglected residents of the town. The area needs immediate attention of the Government so that the living standard of the people is improved,” said Farooq Ahmad of Mohalla Jammia. He said that with the widening of roads, fire tenders would be able to reach on the spot quickly in case of any eventuality. 

Lastupdate on : Sun, 19 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST