Srinagar issues on priority : Javed Rana

Srinagar: Cabinet Minister Javid Rana on Tuesday said the issues concerning Srinagar city are among the government’s priorities, asserting that necessary directions have been issued to the concerned departments to address pending public grievances. Speaking to reporters, Cabinet Minister Javed Rana said discussions were held on various issues raised by senior National Conference leaders, including Sagar, Salman Sagar and General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, with some of the concerns already addressed and directions issued for resolving the remaining matters. “Some of the issues have been addressed, while for the other issues, the department has been instructed to take necessary decisions,” Rana said while speaking to reporters. He further said that the government plans to undertake a visit to the area after Independence Day, most likely during the last week of August, to take stock of the situation on the ground and review the progress of developmental works. “The city of Srinagar is in our priority. All the issues related to water and other concerns will be resolved on priority,” the minister said. Responding to questions regarding complaints of muddy or contaminated tap water being supplied in parts of Srinagar, Rana said such complaints are being continuously monitored by the concerned department. He said complaints regarding water quality and supply are received from different areas from time to time and the department takes corrective measures wherever problems are reported. “These complaints keep coming. It is a continuous process and the department is involved in it. Wherever there are complaints, they are fixing them,” Rana said. The minister maintained that the department has the necessary capacity and is working to improve water supply services, assuring that people would be provided better and more reliable water supply. His remarks came amid concerns raised over visuals circulating from parts of Srinagar showing discoloured water coming from taps, including complaints from areas around educational institutions and residential localities. Asked about reports alleging extensive deforestation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in connection with ongoing construction and development projects, Rana rejected the claim that the Union Territory has emerged as the worst-performing region in the country on forest loss. “What you are saying, this news is not correct. You read the record of last year,” he said. Rana said the government had also presented relevant data before the Legislative Assembly and maintained that the available official record should be examined before drawing conclusions about the extent of deforestation in Jammu and Kashmir.