Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo on Saturday said 1298.28 Kanal of land has been identified for establishment of 09 townships in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to a question raised by Waheed Ur Rehman Parra in the Legislative Assembly.
She said the establishment of these townships is to check unplanned urban expansion and meet housing needs of people of J&K.
While sharing the details, the Minister informed the House that nine housing colonies are being established at Padgampura Pulwama, Watapora Bandipora, Bhalwal Jammu, Changran Kathua, Chatterhama Srinagar, Bakoora Ganderbal, Chakbhalwal Jammu, Chowadhi Jammu and Kanuyian in Poonch district.
She said that details of the beneficiaries shall be determined after DPR formulation.
The Minister said that the Srinagar Development Authority has identified State land along National Highway Bypasss Bemina Srinagar (Rakhi Gund Aksha) and Jammu Development Authority identified land at Sidhra, Jammu for catering to housing needs of people of J&K.
The Minister, while responding to a supplementary, said that all Ecological issues shall be taken into consideration while undertaking any construction.
Asking supplementary questions, MLA Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehman Para said the idea of township is scary and fuels fears of demographic engineering and environmental disasters.
“ The government should come clear on the definition of people of Jammu and Kashmir as it is very vague,” he said.
Para said the government’s admission about setting up satellite townships is contrary to the CM’s earlier statement that no proposal for satellite townships is under consideration.