Srinagar, Mar 27 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said that the rehabilitation process of Dal dwellers to Rakh-i-Arth Housing Colony, Bemina, has been halted due to multiple impediments, including an ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Replying to a question in the Legislative Assembly tabled by MLA Budgam Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, the government, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that around 1,808 families have already been rehabilitated at Rakh-i-Arth Housing Colony, where they were allotted plots and provided compensation for their properties.
“The colony has been equipped with essential civic amenities including electricity, water supply and modern sewage system,” the government said. It, however, added that the rehabilitation process has come to a standstill due to several impediments, notably the ongoing probe by the ACB in FIR No. 04 of 2022.
The government further informed that in light of the directions of the Hon’ble High Court and recommendations of the High-Level Committee and Board of Directors of J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), the earlier rehabilitation and resettlement scheme has been replaced with an in-situ conservation model.
Under the revised model, hamlets within Dal Lake will be treated as part of the “Dal Ecosystem” and developed as Eco-Hamlets instead of relocating all residents. “Only those structures that require relocation shall be excluded from the in-situ conservation model,” it said.
The government said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) titled “Integrated Management Plan for Conservation of Dal-Nigeen Lake” amounting to Rs 212.38 crore has been framed and is currently under the approval process. It added that a pilot project for eco-development of six hamlets inside Dal Lake is under execution at a cost of Rs 21.29 crore.
Regarding allocation of funds, the government said that a re-appraised DPR amounting to Rs 142.61 crore has been framed for undertaking balance works and providing necessary civic amenities to the Dal dwellers already rehabilitated at Rakh-i-Arth Housing Colony, Bemina.
“The proposal shall be placed before the Board of Directors for approval and subsequently submitted to the government for allocation of funds,” it said.
On drainage concerns in the flood-prone colony, the government said that upon approval of the DPR, the drainage network for Phase-I of Rakh-i-Arth shall be made fully functional to address the drainage resilience requirements of the colony—(KNO)