KL Report
Srinagar
In order to facelift the Shehri Khas, Divisional commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon reviewed the pace of progress on the centrally sponsored Cluster Development Initiative in Srinagar City at an officers meeting held in Srinagar on Saturday.
The meeting was informed that the Cluster Development Initiative envisages to develop 2 kilometre long Tourism Street from Nawa Kadal to Cement Bridge with the main aim to uplift and boost the socio-economic status of the artisans of the area besides articulating the artisans with the tourists directly to avoid any middleman ship.
The concerned officers apprised the divisional commissioner about their respective developments and informed that as many as 10 artisan clusters including Khatamband, Papier Mache, Kani Shawl, Wood Carving, Copper work, Ari Crewel, Pashmina, Leather, Sozni and Willow work which were proposed to central government out of which 6 clusters including Papier Mache, Kani Shawl, Ari Crewel, Pashmina, Sozni have been already approved.
The divisional commissioner was also apprised that with the formation of this tourism street about 17 thousand artisan families of Shehr-i-Khas would be benefited and shall provide self employment opportunities to the youth of the area besides giving face lift to the beautification of Srinagar city.
Dr Samoon urged upon the concerned executing agencies to speed up the pace of ongoing works including development of Ghats, Show Windows, lighting and illumination system, besides macadamization of roads in the area.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Associate head Skills Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services, Sofi Arshad Hussain, Joint Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Divisional Town Planner, Joint Director Industries and Commerce, Director IICT, Deputy Director Tourism, Assistant Director Handloom, Executive Engineer PDD, representatives of artisans and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
