Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) has invited suggestions from general public regarding the growth of Srinagar city under a new Master Plan review 2001-2021. It is a pleasure that SDA has sought this public participation for Srinagar development planning. In fact the condition of Srinagar city is horrible because it is not planned city at all as it should have been as the capital city of a Paradise State. First of all it leaves a bad impression in the minds of people whether locals or tourists due to the presence of mountains of garbage on main roads and market hubs which serve as sanctuary for street dogs who have become a constant threat to the human life. Recently a young man jumped into the river due to chasing dogs and his body was retrieved after a week from the river.
Obviously before we talk of the Master Plan, a clean shave of the Srinagar city is needed by timely disposal and decomposition of the garbage and elimination of stray dogs by traditional ways especially adopted in Dogra regime by poisoning (killing) the dogs according to some viable schedule in order to contain the growing dog menace.
The planning of Srinagar city should be initiated under zoning regulations of land and the water bodies available as our heritage for combating the challenges of natural calamities like:
i.  Earthquakes as the valley falls under the seismic zone 5 and the seismologists have already anticipated high magnitude earthquake of which Srinagar would be the most hit. Therefore, construction of houses in Srinagar city needs professional consultancy and expertise.   
ii. The floods are also a constant threat to the Srinagar city when river Jhelum crosses the danger mark. The city especially the Lal Chowk and the adjoining areas are submerged and water logged and it happens so when it rains constantly for a few days, Srinagar city is bowl shaped and needs high power drainage system and deep and powerful flood channels and retaining walls to make it a flood proof city.
iii. The drainage and sewerage system of Srinagar city is out of order in many areas of down town, uptown and even some area of Civil lines, with the result the drains are mostly flooded with house waste, water and the roads also become cesspools due to the defunct drainage and sewerage system causing hindrances to public movement.
iv. The recent windstorm in the valley has given an alarm to Srinagarities also for designing wind proof houses, house tops and open and safe surroundings in future. The fires are also a cause of threat to life and property of humans and animals mostly in the congested areas thereby cautioning to construct fire proof houses with fire gaps, fire extinguishers attached for convenient operation of the fire fighters and rescuers.
We need a macadamized network of wide roads and road connectivity and modern system of flyovers wherever possible to reach our destination on time without being caught in a traffic jam for long hours.
Pirzu type parks (one near Zero Bridge) on the banks of river Jhelum will be appreciated, if constructed for the facelift of Jhelum from Pantha Chowk to Chattabal as it will serve as a recreational spot and give a new look to Srinagar city.     
River transport is to be encouraged for recreational purposes in Jhelum and Dal lake and its adjoining water routes through Shikaras, houseboats, motorboats etc. that will add to the charm of Jhelum and Dal Lake. A task force should take care for the maintenance of these water bodies.
The people of Srinagar are generally business and service class and the industrial and agricultural growth is very poor. The modern industries should also find space in Srinagar city and the entrepreneurs should be given every facility vis-à-vis land, loan, training etc. likewise agricultural land should also be utilized for building good crops, vegetables etc. and a multiple production of fruit (horticulture), flowers (floriculture), fish (aviculture) etc. should go to the entrepreneurs to tackle the menace of unemployment of the youth. 
In nutshell the Master Plan for Srinagar city 2001-2021 should promise good roads and buildings, gardens and parks, modern system of traffic and flyovers and a compatible system of drainage and sewerage, agricultural, recreational, socio cultural and wide range plans. In my view the most important contribution of the administrative body is the implementation of Master Plan of Srinagar city which has not been implemented so far. By its implementation positive results are expected if the heritage of the city is preserved without hurting its socio cultural milieu. 

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Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST