Valley to get Kashmir Haat-II in Pampore

 

The government is coming up with another ‘Kashmir Haat’ along Srinagar-Jammu highway at Pampore in south Kashmir, but with more facilities and more space for traders and visitors.

Minister for Industries and Commerce Chandra Prakash Ganga told KNS that Kashmir Haat-II will be constructed at Sempora in Pampore in Pulwama disitrct.

Ganga said that the site at Sempora is “ideal” for Kashmir Haat-II as there is “much land available” at the site.

The Haat will come up near the proposed site of International Trade Centre (ITC) at Sempora which is to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 47.92 crore on an area of 371 kanals of land with latest facilities under one roof.

“The project cost of Kashmir Haat-II will be about Rs 30-35 crore. The Haat will have all the modern facilities available. It will be more spacious than the existing Kashmir Haat near Jahangir Chowk in Srinagar,” Ganga said.

The Haat will be built under the World Bank-funded Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP). The World Bank has sought a feasibility report of the project, including its environmental and social impact report, the minister said.

The minister said that the tenders have been invited to hire a private consultation agency to undertake the feasibility study.

The World Bank has sanctioned $250-million Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project to cover reconstruction and strengthening of critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, restoration of urban flood management infrastructure, livelihood in 22 districts of the state. In addition, it has been drafted to strengthen the disaster risk management capacity and contingent emergency response.

The World Bank had approved the project on June 2, 2015, after Omar Abdullah-led previous NC-Congress coalition government took up the matter with the Central government. The project is to be completed before June 30, 2020.

During the 6th Industrial Advisory Council meeting on February 7, chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, it was said that Kashmir Haat-II would be developed opposite the EDI building at Pampore on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway with a cost of over Rs 40 crore.

“The idea of setting up the Haat-II at Sempora is to have it assessable to all the traders, consumers and visitors. Since Srinagar city is congested and the existing Haat is lacking space for extension and modernization, so it is feasible to construct the new Haat at Sempora,” Ganga said.

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