Kulgam, :A stakeholder meeting for preparation of the GIS-based Master Plan for Kulgam Town under AMRUT 2.0 was held Wednesday at Mini-Secretariat, Kulgam, in presence of MLA Kulgam and Devsar, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Special Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, MD AMRUT 2.0, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir and Chief Town Planner Kashmir.
The meeting deliberated upon a comprehensive framework for planned, sustainable and future-oriented development of Kulgam town, with the proposed vision and development framework up to 2047 forming a key focus of discussion.
During the meeting, the stakeholders discussed positioning Kulgam as a regional agro-logistics and district service hub while ensuring sustainable urban growth, improved connectivity, economic development and better quality of life.
Various proposed components of the Master Plan were deliberated upon including strengthening of agro-logistics and mandi infrastructure, development of a multispecialty hospital, educational infrastructure, decentralised parks and recreational spaces, augmentation of the water supply network, improved parking and traffic management, bypass-oriented development and mixed-use development along identified corridors.
Local stakeholders from Kulgam, including market associations, traders, town residents, local communities of town, citizens, ex-PRIs and activists, social society members and other concerned development and service oriented departments put forward their suggestions for the finalisation of Master Plan.
They suggested that the Master Plan should be framed with a long-term perspective and should not create avoidable liabilities, unplanned development or infrastructure-related burdens for future generations. They stressed that development should remain balanced with environmental protection, adequate infrastructure, traffic management and preservation of the town’s natural resources so that the benefits of planned development are sustained for generations to come.
Particular emphasis was laid on river-sensitive development along the Vishaw River, including development of riverfront public spaces and measures for strengthening flood resilience. The need to protect water bodies and environmentally sensitive areas from unsuitable and hazardous activities was also discussed. It was emphasised that dumping and other potentially polluting activities should not be permitted in the vicinity of water bodies.
Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Mandeep Kaur stressed the need for ensuring that future construction is safe, planned and compatible with surrounding land use. She emphasised that the Master Plan should clearly identify the permissible activities and type of construction in the core area and other designated zones, while preventing hazardous or incompatible structures and activities in sensitive locations.
The meeting also discussed formulation of appropriate local development by-laws to regulate construction and land use in accordance with the requirements of the town. The proposed shift towards flexible, demand-driven and mixed-use planning, with compatible uses permitted subject to a defined negative list, was also highlighted as part of the BRAP-compliant planning approach.
A properly conceived Master Plan, it was noted, would help determine in advance what needs to be developed, where development should take place and how infrastructure, mobility, public amenities and environmental assets can be protected as the town expands.
MLA Kulgam, Mohd Yousuf Tarigamiand MLA Devsar, Peerzada Feroze Ahamad emphasised that the Master Plan should genuinely reflect the aspirations, requirements and long-term interests of the people.They called for active involvement of citizens and local stakeholders in the planning process and stressed that their suggestions should be duly incorporated to make the document practical, responsive and implementable.
The meeting was attended also by SSP Kulgam, ADDC, ADC, SEs of PWD, Hydraulic and O&M Circles, ACR, ACD, CMO, CAO, DFO, CEO, CEO Municipal Council Kulgam, ARTO, Executive Engineers of PWD (R&B), PHE, KPDCL, Irrigation and Flood Control Divisions, District Officer PCB, besides representatives of Traders Association, Auqaf Committee, Transport Association, Fruit Growers Association and other prominent citizens/public representatives and others.
Later, the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, visited the dumping site at Lirow and the Animal Birth Control Centre at Kulgam to take stock of the existing facilities and arrangements.
During the visits, Mandeep Kaur reviewed the sanitation, waste management and related urban service infrastructure. She emphasised the need for proper management of waste and strengthening of civic amenities in line with the objectives of planned and sustainable urban development.
