Srinagar Master Plan Debacle

Kashmir Times. Dated: 9/26/2016 10:42:29 PM

Dear Editor,
This is invite the attention of Dr. Nimal Kumar Singh, Deputy Chief Minister of J & K as well as Minister Planning and Urban Development to a serious and pressing issue.
A Proposed Master Plan for Srinagar is being completed and is scheduled for submission to the government within a weeks time. The proposed plan, in the making for about a year, was being done under the direction of the Chief of the Town Planner Organization, Mr. Iftikhar Hakim. Mr Iftikhar Hakim is a highly qualified, experienced City Planner. He is a honest and dedicated professional who by his diligent work has earned the respect of his subordinates and the general public.
Mr. Hakim has recently been relieved of his duties and transferred to Srinagar Municipality. Mr. Hakim’s replacement is an architect with very limited planning education, a correspondent course, and has no work experience in Master Planning of cities.
What is this rational for this last minute change in the planning organization leadership?
Is the appointment a case of nepotism or a move to suit land speculators? The new head of the planning organization has superseded many existing employees within the planning organization who are better educated and experienced in city planning, compared to the architect who is to head the organization. Having an inexperienced person, who would be prone to influence, to officiate the planning organization would give the land mafia in Kashmir a free hand to turn Srinagar into a Cement-nagar. The minister is requested to ensure an experienced person as head of the institution and also see that the planning process for the Srinagar Master Plan continues credibly.
—Rafique A Khan,
rafique@KashmirFoA.org

 

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