TOWN PLANNING ORGANISATION, KASHMIR MASTER PLAN OF KARGIL DRAFT MASTER PLAN REPORT Feedback Infra Pvt Ltd & BE Consultants Town Planning Organisation, Srinagar KARGIL MASTER PLAN Draft Report Preface Cities have become concentrates of intelligence and demand large investments for their development. Large resources are spent on the development of various urban settlements but the condition of these towns continues to deteriorate because of piecemeal nature of expenditure and lack of definitive development schemes. Adhoc efforts neither result in better environment nor strengthen the economic base. Even having a Master Plan document in place, there are still distortions in land development. In view of this, Town Planning Organisation, Srinagar has undertaken the preparation of Master Plan for Kargil Town, which envisages all encompassing development at an intensive detailed level land use plan. The horizon year conceived for the Plan is 2032. Master Plans are expected to give impetus to the development envisaged in the Plan by laying policies incoherent with socio-economic scenario. Kargil is considered as major transit centre of region, endowed with snow lofted mountain ranges and scenic beauty. Efforts are being meticulously taken to conserve this USP of the town with tackling the pressure of burgeoning expansion. In the first phase, the Master Plans of district headquarters have been taken up which will be followed up by Master Plans of other small and medium towns. The Government has also decided to outsource few Master Plans; however, the Master Plan for Kargil, which has the potential of becoming Class II town in near future; this task has been entrusted to M/s Feedback Infra Private Limited, Gurgaon. The studies involved in the preparation of Master Plan concerns with the areas crucial to planning and development of the region. The Plan brings to notice the local issues prevailing in the region and conceive the future accordingly to enhance the implementation of the Plan in perceptible terms. In this Master Plan, the development proposals have been framed after a detailed study and analysis of the crucial issues related to economic development, infrastructure, transportation, housing, environment and sustainability. This comprehensive effort has established a framework for physical and socio-economic development and upliftment of the region– Its constituent elements and the development policy mechanism by which these goals can be achieved. At this juncture, the main purpose for Feedback Infra Private Ltd. in putting this document is to solicit critical comments and suggestions to achieve greater participation, meaningfulness and make the Master Plan for Kargil (2032) acceptable to stakeholders who have a role to play in its development and implementable for the Local Authority. The Draft Master Plan Kargil (2032) is being submitted to the government and the Local Authority for publication under the provision of “J & K Development Act 1970” and the rules framed thereof. (Fayaz A. Khan) Chief Town Planner Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir Page 2 Town Planning Organisation, Srinagar KARGIL MASTER PLAN Draft Report Team Members Advisory Team (Client) Town Planning Organization, Kashmir Fayaz A. Khan Chief Town Planner, Kashmir Iftikhar A. Hakim Former, Chief Town Planner, Kashmir Gulzar A. Dar Assistant Town Planner Working Team (Consultant) Feedback Infra Private Limited & B.E. Consultants Core Team Virendra Kumar Architect- Urban Designer P. N. Bhargava Architect- Urban Planner Gajendra Kumar Singh Engineer- Urban Planner Satyajeet Roy Gupta Geographer- Urban Planner Nirajbhan Mahajan Architect- Housing Planner Drafting & Digitization Team Seema Tanwar (CAD) Draftsman Dhirendra Singh (CAD) Draftsman Surender Singh Dagar (CAD/ GIS) Draftsman Amit Sharma (CAD/ GIS) Draftsman Data Collection/ Survey Team Satyajeet Roy Gupta Geographer- Urban Planner Nirajbhan Mahajan Architect- Housing Planner Report Compilation Preeti Shokeen Document Controller Page 3 Town Planning Organisation, Srinagar KARGIL MASTER PLAN Draft Report Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 14 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 14 1.2 Historical Background .............................................................................................................. 14 1.2.1 Town at the Glance ......................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2 Physical Growth of the town ........................................................................................... 15 1.3 Need for the Master Plan ........................................................................................................ 16 1.4 Objectives of the Master Plan .................................................................................................. 16 1.5 Limitation of the Project .......................................................................................................... 16 1.6 Approach to Plan Preparation ................................................................................................. 17 1.6.1 Role of Kargil in the Region ............................................................................................. 17 1.6.2 Priority areas for Urban Expansion ................................................................................. 17 1.7 Kargil Planning Area ................................................................................................................. 18 1.8 Vision and Development Strategy ........................................................................................... 18 1.8.1 Vision and Goal................................................................................................................ 18 1.8.2 Planning Principles .......................................................................................................... 19 1.8.3 Town Structure ................................................................................................................ 20 1.9 Potential of the Tourism Industry ............................................................................................ 20 1.9.1 Planning Zones ................................................................................................................ 20 1.9.2 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 21 2. REGIONAL SETTING & RESOURCE BASE ........................................................................................ 22 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 22 2.2 Location and Regional Setting ................................................................................................. 22 2.2.1 Geographic area and Extent ............................................................................................ 22 2.2.2 Linkages and Connectivity ............................................................................................... 24 2.2.3 Physiography and Climate ............................................................................................... 24 2.2.4 Seismic zones .................................................................................................................. 25 2.3 Ecology and Environment ........................................................................................................ 26 2.3.1 Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................................... 26 2.3.2 Natural Disasters ............................................................................................................. 27 2.3.3 Environmental Issues ...................................................................................................... 28 2.4 Economy and Resource Base ................................................................................................... 28 2.4.1 Agriculture Production .................................................................................................... 28 2.4.2 Industrial Base ................................................................................................................. 30 Page 4 Town Planning Organisation, Srinagar KARGIL MASTER PLAN Draft Report 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 30 3. DEMOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 31 3.2 Population Distribution ............................................................................................................ 31 3.2.1 Municipal Area: Urban .................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2 Rural Area ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.2.3 Population Growth Trends .............................................................................................