Srinagar, Sep 6: At a time when revamp of Srinagar’s Master Plan is of critical importance and any laxity could be disastrous for the prosperity of this historic City, lobbying is on to make some town planners with a “tainted record” a part of the much awaited exercise.
Sources in the Civil Secretariat said some influential business houses who want to get the Master Plan “tailored as per their personal requirement are betting for posting of their favorite town planners for the coveted assignment.”

The intrigue
The sources said, to start with a town planner with “tainted  record for having destroyed eco fragile environment of Pahalgam by changing the status of green’s into commercial as a then official with the area Master Plan for the hill resort”, is all set to be made part of the expert team working on the Srinagar’s Master Plan. He is being “pushed” by these business houses for the posting of Senior Town Planner (STP) in the SDA so that they can then “utilize” his services to get the Master Plan tailor-made.
“We are being pressurized to do get it through a simple transfer order, an exercise which will be pleaded as an action in the interest of the administration,” said a senior official working in the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD).

‘The tainted official’
The allegedly tainted official who is to be made part of the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) team is already under scanner of the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) Kashmir. “SVO has taken cognizance of the omissions and commissions committed by the official and his senior who has also already retired from the services,” said a source.
“Instead of acting tough with the accused the government is giving him another opportunity because he is well versed in keeping the interests of influential people safe even when it can be disastrous for prosperity of the state,” said a senior town planner requesting not to be named.
Sources said a leading business house of Kashmir is lobbying for his transfer to the SDA as Chief Town Planner so that a large chunk of “green and residential could be converted into commercial at the cost of environment.”
Some Non Government Organizations working for ecology of Srinagar have already mailed their reservations in this regard to the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and even the SVO. But till now there has been no response. “Instead the government is all set to transfer him soon to the SDA,” they said.

THE ONGOING REVAMP
The much-awaited revamp of the Master Plan of Greater Srinagar for 2001-2021 was started earlier this year when the SDA signed the MoU with SAI Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, an Ahmedabad based ISO certified firm, assigned the recast work.
 It’s for the first time that a professional consultancy has been engaged for the prestigious task while the development authority plans to initiate framing of Zonal Plans, something critical for the Mater Plan enforcement.

WHAT MASTER PLAN IS?
 “Master Plan is broadly a land-use plan divided into different land uses – residential, commercial, administrative, industrial, recreational and agricultural including various sub-plans,” explains the SDA Town Planner.
 “Under Zoning Regulations, the Master Plan earmarks permissible uses, identifies compatible uses under mixed use to be permitted by the Competent Authority and defines uses that are totally prohibited,” Bilkies adds.
Officials speak
Given the sensitivity of the entire exercise, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon have been keeping a constant eye on the Master Plan revamp to ensure that the whole exercise is kept away from any influences.
Despite repeated attempts Tara Chand couldn’t be contacted for comments. When contacted Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Suresh Kumar however expressed ignorance on the “issue of any proposed transfers.”
“There’s no such proposal under consideration at present,” Kumar told Greater Kashmir.

BOTTOMLINE
Given the revelation by a London based urban affairs think-tank that Srinagar is among the 100 fastest growing urban centre world-over coupled with apprehensions that the City was heading towards a mess due to alleged ill planning, the Master Plan review is of critical importance.
 Last year the state government initiated the process for holistic review of the Srinagar Master Plan “in a bid to decongest the City, develop heritage sites and put a halt on reckless constructions around”.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 6 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST