DRAFT MASTER PLAN KULGAM- 2038 Preface Urban India has witnessed an accelerated growth in the past two decades, with the population growing at 3% year on year. This rapid growth will add more than 300 million urban residents in the next 20-25 years. Apart from the mega cities, there has been a substantial addition of urban population to the smaller and medium sized towns. The number of urban agglomerations with population of one million plus has been reported to be 53 (census 2011) as compared to 35 in the previous census. This population living in cities contributes nearly 65% of India’s GDP and in next 15 years, nearly 75% of GDP is projected to come from urban areas. Because of high economic growth and low urban base, Indian cities are growing at a faster rate than the rest of the world. The rapid urbanization is accompanied by a host of challenges such as urban sprawl resulting in increase in population as well as stress on the existing infrastructure. The State of Jammu and Kashmir having population about 12.54 million as per Census 2011 is the 19th most populated state in India. The State recorded a decadal population growth rate of about 23% from 2001-2011 exceeding the national growth rate of about 17%. Out of total population of 12.54 million, about 27% people live in urban areas of the state which has increased at an annual growth rate of 3.6% during last decade higher than the national average (3%). At this growth rate of 3.6%, the urban population of the State is projected around 7.2 million by 2035. Out of the total urban population of 3.4 million in the State, Kashmir Valley holds 2.2 million (63%). Large resources are needed for the development of these urban settlements and Govt. of India has funded and implemented many schemes for improving the infrastructure of these towns and cities. The state of Jammu & Kashmir has not been able to use the available funding under these schemes optimally primarily because of the non-availability of Master Plan documents for these towns and cities. In view of this, Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir has undertaken a comprehensive scheme for the preparation of Master Plans of various towns envisaging there all compassing development. In the 1st phase Master Plans of all the district headquarters towns have been taken up and the preparation of Master Plan Kulgam Town is another step in that direction. Kulgam holds significant importance in the settlement hierarchy of Kashmir valley in general and in the southern part of the valley in particular. Town Planning Organization, Kashmir earlier formulated the Master Plan Kulgam in 2012 and submitted the same for its notification which was not accepted by the administrative department on basis of deficiencies. However, TOWN PLANNING ORGANISATION, KASHMIR i DRAFT MASTER PLAN KULGAM- 2038 the Master Plan has been formulated afresh on the basis of the decisions taken in the Estimates Committee Meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MLA, Kulgam on 22.02.2017 and on the request of District Development Commissioner, Kulgam communicated to this office vide no: DDK/Master Plan/2016-17/1386-87 dated: 21.02.2017. The studies for the preparation of Master Plan included socio-economic, land-use and traffic and transportation surveys which were conducted by the town planning Organisation, Kashmir. The basic rationale of the Master Plan is to achieve better living and economic conditions of the population and to explore all possible opportunities for the economic development of the town at large. A detailed policy frame work has been contemplated in the Master Plan Kulgam with all stakeholders on board and is expected to be followed in letter and spirit to ensure the better living conditions, economic upliftment and creation of more employment opportunities for the inhabitants of the town in particular and the region in general. The Master Plan becomes a futile exercise if it is not implemented in letter and spirit. The proposals contained in the Master Plan need to be translated into action plans and concrete deliverables to achieve the desired goals. The draft Master Plan of Kulgam-2038 is being submitted to the Govt. for its publication and notification as per the provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Development Act, 1970 or the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000. (Fayaz A. Khan) Chief Town Planner Town Planning Organization, Kashmir TOWN PLANNING ORGANISATION, KASHMIR ii DRAFT MASTER PLAN KULGAM- 2038 WORKING TEAM PLANNING TEAM Fayaz A. Khan Chief Town Planner, Kashmir Gulzar A. Dar Town Planner Nazir Ahmad Magray Assistant Town Planner Updatation and Field Verification Mohmmad Abdullaha Sheikh Executive Engineer Sajad Hussain Qadri Assistant Executive Engineer Irfan Ahmad Lone Urban Planner (Contractual) Subzar Bashir Urban Planner (Contractual) Dheeraj S. Manhas Infrastructure Planner (Contractual) SURVEY (LAND USE & TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION SURVEY) Subzar Ahmad Khan Junior Engineer Parvez Ahmed Junior Engineer Mohammed Iqbal Malik Junior Engineer Ashak Hussain Bhat Junior Engineer Nissar Ahmad Mattoo Head Draftsman Raj Kumar Head Draftsman Imtiyaz Ahmad Hafiz Draftsman Azad Ahmad Mir Draftsman Bashir Ahmad Bhat Tracer Nazir Ahmad Gasi Tracer Showkat Ahmad Ganie Tracer SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY/STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS Suneem Amin Field Inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad Hafiz Draftsman Showkat Ahmad Ganie Tracer DRAFTING & DIGITIZATION Faizan Jalal GIS Analyst (Contractual) TOWN PLANNING ORGANISATION, KASHMIR iii DRAFT MASTER PLAN KULGAM- 2038 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface …………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….i Working Team .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..iii Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND TOWN PROFILE ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Status of Kulgam Town ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Kulgam – A Profile ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Historical Development .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Physiography ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Climate ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 1.7 Soil Characteristics .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.8 Natural Drainage ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.9 Notified Area Limits ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 2: SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Area and Population ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Literacy Rate ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Age and Sex Structure ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Work Force Participation Ratio ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Occupational Structure ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.6 Household/Family Size .................................................................................................................................................................................................