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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 2, No 4, 2012

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on March 2012 Published on May 2012 2090

Declining city-core of an Indian primate city: A case study of Srinagar city Wani Rashid A

1, Khairkar V. P²

1- Research Scholar, Department of Geography, University of Pune

2-Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Pune

[email protected]

doi:10.6088/ijes.00202030092

ABSTRACT

The index of primacy for Srinagar works out to be 9.95 for two city index, 4.22 for four city

index 5.56 for eleven city index at the regional level. City core has always been a spatial

location of significance, though its characteristic qualities have been varied considerably both

spatially and temporally. The area is the heart, the brain and the soul of the entire urban

organism (Sita, K. et al, 1988: 13). The city core is the hub of various functions varying from

education to health, administrative, trade, traffic etc. The core area of the Srinagar city

encompasses 1,114 hectares of land on both side of river Jhelum. More than 60 percent of the

total buildings of core are in poor or dilapidated conditions. The population density of the city

core is decreasing (357 persons per hectares in 1981 to 324 persons per hectare in 2001).

Urban landscapes are exemplified by the large concentration of population and fast expansion

of urban zones which lead to alteration in the land use and land cover configuration that

consequently impacts the landscape environment (Long et al., 2008). The problems of

Srinagar city is becoming critical with the increase in population and deterioration in existing

level of services which are assuming serious propositions in all aspect of urban living and are

extremely critical in major sectors of sewerage, drainage, traffic and transportation, housing

for urban poor, conservation of natural or cultural heritage. Besides, an improved mode of

traffic has degraded the quality of environment in the core. With the result, the streets of the

city core are becoming not only congested but narrow as well.

Keywords: Index of primacy, city core, hectares, dilapidated, Land use and land cover.

1. Introduction

An efficient system with appropriate hierarchy is a pre-requisite for rapid economic

development of an urban area. Core of the city is the central and the oldest part of the city

which is continuously worked upon by a set of centripetal and centrifugal forces.

Concentration of activities, greater accessibility proximity to work areas etc. act as centripetal

forces whereas the old and dilapidated housing conditions, degraded environmental

conditions, stress and strain, inadequate infrastructure etc are the centrifugal forces. Many of

the inner areas surrounding the centers of our cities suffer from economic decline, physical

decay and adverse social conditions. The inner parts of our cities ought not to be left to decay.

It means leaving large number of people to face a future of declining job opportunities, a

squalid environment, deteriorated housing and declining public service. The mixed impacts

of these forces results in the vertical and lateral growth of a city core. Being the central part

of the old city, the core area generally reflects the historical background of a city. It is

invariably the hub of cultural, administrative and economic activities. The core is the nucleus

of the city.

Declining city-core of an Indian primate city: A case study of Srinagar city

Wani Rashid A, Khairkar V. P

International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 2 No.4, 2012 2091

2. Methodology

Secondary data has been taken from different sources of Census of India, Srinagar Municipal

Corporation (SMC), Transport Police Officer (TPO) Kashmir, Srinagar Master Plan, 2000-21,

Development Commissioner and Handicrafts (DCH) Srinagar and Srinagar development

authority (SDA) for the study. The data has been processed using various statistical and

cartographic techniques. For understanding the impacts of changing physical characteristics

on land etc., geospatial tools like remote sensing and GIS have been useful. For the

interpretation process, Survey of India (SOI) topo sheet was referenced and band separation

and windowing of the study area with performed. Satellite imageries were stacked in different

bands to produce a false color for the extracted of the study area by sub-setting of the image.

The images were digitized in GIS environment using Arc View 3.2a software in the form of

polygons representing different socio-physical conditions. The Index of primacy was

calculated from the formula given below:

3. Primacy index for Kashmir valley

In some countries, the urban population is highly concentrated in a single city or urban

agglomeration. The most populous city of each country accounts for the highest

proportion of the urban population in that city which such a city is called primate city

and the phenomenon is called primacy. Its degree of primacy is measured by the

proportion of the urban population living in that city (UN, 2003: 97). The extent of

primacy of an individual city’s, a few cities depends on a country’s size and stage of

development. Large countries tend to have small primacy indices than the smaller ones

(Schaltzt et al. 1997: 123)

Primacy index

For two city (Srinagar and Anantnag)

PI = 971357/97610

PI = 9.95

For four city (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramullah and Sopore)

PI = 971357/229687




PI = 4.23

Table 1: Calculation primacy indexes for Srinagar city

Rank Urban Centres Population

C₁ Srinagar 971357

C₂ Anantnag 97610

C₃ Baramullah 72014

C₄ Sopore 60063

C₅ Bandipora 25714

C₆ Bijbehara 19703

C₇ Pampore 16595

C₈ Pulwama 15521

C₉ Kupwara 14711

C₁₀ Ganderbal 13944

C₁₁ Kulgam 13523

C₁₂ Shopian 12396

C₁₃ Tral 11607

C₁₄ Pattan 11409

C₁₅ Handwara 10624

C₁₆ Charisharief 7378

C₁₇ Mattan 6367

C₁₈ Pahalgam 5922

C₁₉ Achabal 5835

C₂₀ Uri 5256

For Eleven city primate index (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramullah, Sopore, Bandipora,

Bijbehara, Pampore, Pulwama, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Kulgam)

PI = 2 x 971357/349398

PI = 5.56

The phenomenon of primacy is extremely strong in the Jammu and Kashmir state. The

single largest city i.e. Srinagar constitutes 65.28 percent of the state’s urban population

and is three times larger than the second largest city of the state, Jammu. At the regional

level i.e. in Kashmir Valley, Srinagar city is ten times larger than the second urban centre

of Anantnag. The index measures the concentration of the first city in relation to other

cities or urban centres. At the State level, the index of primacy worked out is 2.72 in two

city index i.e. Srinagar (9,71,357) and Jammu (3,78,431). In Kashmir valley, the index

of primacy of Srinagar works out to be 9.95 for two city index (Srinagar and Anantnag),

4.22 for four city index (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramullah and Sopore) and 5.56 for

eleven city index (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramullah, Sopore, Bandipora, Bijbehara,

Pampore, Pulwama, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian). As the primacy

represents the ratio of the population of the largest city in the country to the population

of second largest city, the population of Bangkok is thirty times larger than the

population of the second largest city. Dhaka’s index was 3.25 while Seoul has 2.85

primacy index (United Nations centre for Human settlements, 1997: 73). Srinagar city

has two city primacy index of 9.95, four city primacy index of 4.22 and eleven city




primacy index of 5.56 which shows that population is highly concentrated in the first

class city (Srinagar city) which has given a new dimension to the area. It is larger in

population than population of all the urban centres put together. It appears that the

phenomenon of primacy is closely linked with the size of population in small States, the

state capital has emerged as the prominent primate city (Ranjan, 1999) which is the case

with Srinagar city. Being the capital of the state, all the developmental processes and

infrastructural advancements are made available here which attract people from all sizes

of the state. It could be understood with the fact that Srinagar is the only Class I urban

centre of the state which has shadowed growth of other urban areas.

4. Land use characteristic of the Srinagar city core

Land use is a product of interactions between a society's cultural background, state, and its

physical needs on the one hand, and the natural potential of land on the other (Alaguraja et al.,

2010). Anthropogenic changes in land use and land cover are being increasingly recognized

as critical factors influencing global change. Knowledge of the nature of land use and land

cover change and their configuration across spatial and temporal scales is consequently

indispensable for sustainable environmental management and development (Turner et al

1995). The land use of Srinagar city core highlighting the nature of its land is given in Table

2. The proportion of the built-up area to the total area in the city core is about 90 percent, out

of which residential area and residential cum commercial area accounts for about 85 percent.

The general pattern of land use distribution in the city core reflects an amorphous and organic

nature. There is gross inadequacy of parks and open spaces in the older part of the city core

(only 4.5 acres) on the one hand, there is concentration of parks and open spaces in the new

CBD at Lal Chowk towards Dal Lake on the other hand which clearly reveals that the land in

Srinagar city is not utilized properly.

Table 2: Land use of Srinagar city core, 2001

S. No. Use Area (hectares) percentage

1 Residential 621.6 55.8

2 Commercial 58.3 5.2

3 Residential cum Commercial 203.6 18.3

4 Circulation 37.8 3.4

5 Public and Semi Public 62.4 5.6

6 Industrial 2.2 0.2

7 Parks and Open spaces 30.1 2.7

8 Water Bodies 93.6 8.4

9 Saffron Farm 4.4 0.4

Total 840.76 100

It is clear from the Table 2 that 55.80 percent of the land is under residential use whereas

18.30 percent is under residential cum commercial highlighting the fact that the area is highly

congested. The area has a population density of 324 which itself shows the exposes of the

area. There is a small area of 58.30 hectares devoted to commercial use. Due to narrow lanes

and being mostly congested with traffic people prefer to shop other parts of the city. The only

two dominant land uses in this area residential and residential cum commercial highlighting

the historical fact that the area has been the centre from decades. People used to throng to this

place as it was the hub of all commercial and religio-economic centre of the city. A small

proportion of land is devoted to Saffron Cultivation (4.4 hectares) and Industries (2.2




hectares). Also, 93.6 hectares is under water bodies whereas 37.8 hectares is used for

circulation. A small portion of land accounting to 30.1 is devoted to parks and Open spaces.

Figure 1: Land use of Srinagar city core, 2001

With about three fourth of the total area under residential and residential-cum-commercial

use, the Srinagar Master Plan 2000-21, has described the Srinagar city core as the residential

district. Residential area of 621.6 hectares account for 55.8 percent of the total area of the

core whereas Residential-cum- Commercial area of 203.6 hectares account for about 18.3

percent of the total area of the city core. Area under circulation in the core of Srinagar city

account for just 3.4 percent (37.8 hectares). The roads of the city core are usually congested

for most part of the day. Besides, the city core is characterized by narrow, irregular and

haphazard road pattern.

4.1 Built up area of the Srinagar core

According to the Srinagar master Plan 2000-21, the city core is hurdled brick to brick and

roof to roof in most parts. It is city of narrow lanes between 4 to 6 feet wide. Parks and play

fields are absent in this area of the city. Studies have utilized remote sensed data to examine

urban land changes in modern times with conclusions showing varying degree of different

patterns of urban expansion and development in which could be associated with specific

environmental factors (Long et al., 2008).

Table 3: Housing condition and Housing Density of Srinagar City Core- 2001

Area Name No. Of Houses

Housing

density

(H/H)

percentage

of Occupied

Houses

percentage

of poor

Houses

percentage

of derelict

Houses

Area under

derelicthouses

(Hectares)

Lal Chowk 4557 22 98.0 34 2 4.12

Karan Nagar 6131 36 98.75 48 1.25 3.84

Karfalli

Mohalla

3984 52 98.5 62 1.5 3.64

Mujahid Mazil 3989 48 98 69 2 4.09

Habba Kadal 4692 24 96 77 4 7.6

Zaina Kadal 5442 26 98.6 64 1.4 4.86

Safa Kadal 2756 37 98 51 2 4.5




Khanyar 1498 54 99 68 1 2.6

Hawal 2175 30 98.7 56 1.3 3.12

Total 35224 - - - - 38.37

Figure 2: Percentage of derelict houses in Figure 3: Percentage of poor houses in

Srinagar city core, 2001 Srinagar city core, 2001

The statistical data collected from Srinagar Municipal Corporation pertaining to the housing

condition of the city reveal that about 67 percent of the total buildings are of poor and derelict

conditions in the city core. With about 3/5th

of the buildings of poor and derelict condition,

the city core of Srinagar has turned into an urban slum (Table 3). The total area of 38.43

hectares under derelict buildings acts as an asset for the provision of the community

infrastructure. The poor quality of structures gives a poor impression about the image of the

city core. The remarkable physical decay the core has gone can be accessed with the fact that

the core has an insignificant proportion of parks and open spaces (4.5 acres only).

4.2 Socio-economic profile of the Srinagar city core

The core being the oldest part which once was the hub of economic activities is now one of

the most densely populated areas of Srinagar city. Table 4 depicts that total population of

Srinagar core was 367192 in 1981 with a density of 354 persons per hectare. In 2001, the

population of the core was 314855 persons with a density of 324 persons per hectare.

Table 4: Population and density trend of city core

Area name Population Projected

Population

Area in

Hectares

2001

Density (PPH)

1981 2001 2021 1981 2001

Lal Chowk 41930 38753 69120 205.4 204 109

Karan Nagar 62823 52984 93403 168.8 372 314

Karfalli Mohalla 38721 32721 57698 76.4 507 428

Mujahid mazil 51063 41990 73767 89.6 570 468

Habba Kadal 69806 45250 76539 195.4 357 232

Zaina Kadal 51984 46469 82541 204.3 254 227

Safa Kadal 25245 24972 44895 74.8 338 334

Khanyar 10255 12769 23487 27.8 369 459




Hawal 15365 18947 34821 71.5 215 265

Total 367192 314855 556272 1114 - -

Average 354 324

Figure 4: Density of population in Figure 5: Density of population in

Srinagar city core, 1981 Srinagar city core, 2001

The slight decrease is mainly due to the decentralization of population from the dense core to

the sparsely populated outskirts of the Srinagar city like Hyderpora, Peer Bagh, Bemina,

Humhama, Sanat Nagar, Rawalpora, etc. There is an increase in the density of the population

in Khanyar and Hawal but, all other wards have registered a decline in the population density

since 1981 especially the two wards of Lal Chowk and Habba Kadal. People get attracted to

Khanyar and Hawal as they have got religious importance (Location of Jamia Masjid and

close proximity of Mukhdoom Sahib in these areas) (Table 4). Only the ward of Safa Kadal

has nearly remained constant which had a density of 338 in 1981 which declined slightly to

334 persons per hectare in 2001. It can be deduced from the Table 4 that the ward numbers

Karfalli Mohalla, Mujahid Mazil, Safa Kadal and Khanyar have a population density much

more than the average density of the city-core which is mainly because greater number of

people still reside here as they do not have much choice due to the high price of land in the

resident colonies of the city which they can’t afford.

4.3 Participation ratio and occupational structure of Srinagar core

There is a contradiction in the occupational structure of the Srinagar city and its core because

the percentage of workers in the city core has decreased from1961 to 2001 whereas the city

has witnessed a positive growth rate (Table 5). In 1961, the percentage of workers in the city

core was 31.86 percent against the 28.1 percent of the city.

Table 5: Occupational Structure of Srinagar core and Srinagar City, 1961-2001

Year percent of

Primary workers

to total workers

percent of

secondary workers

to total workers

percent of Tertiary

workers to total

workers

Total

Core

Srinagar

city

1961 5.26 33.97 60.77 31.86 28.1




1971 10.96 31.25 57.79 31.25 28

1981 12.07 34.04 53.89 30.6 30.5

2001 16.87 29.76 53.40 26.75 32.6

Figure 6: Occupation structure of Srinagar city core

The core has witnessed a decrease in total number of workers from 26.75 in 1981 to 26.75 in

2001. The migration of the upper class and elite from the core towards the periphery areas

was mainly due to the fact that the core was getting more and more congested leading to

problems like narrow lanes, degraded roads, defunct drainage system, traffic congestion for

most of the day etc. In case of Srinagar city it has increased due to development in private

sector which has not bloomed greatly but still has absorbed a large number of youth. People

usually migrated from rural and semi urban areas of Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam,

Pulwama, Kupwara etc.

There is a decline of work force from 31.25 percent in 1971 to 30.6 percent in 2001 (Table 5).

This is mainly due to shifting of certain activities from the city core to other parts of the city

as mentioned in the first master plan of Srinagar city (1971-1991). During 1971-81, the

proportion of primary and secondary workers increased from 10.96 percent to12.07 percent

and 31.25 percent to 34.04 percent respectively. But, the tertiary sector witnessed a decline,

as the percentage of workers engaged in this sector came down from 57.79 percent in 1971 to

53.89 percent in 1981. From 1981 to 2001, the number of primary workers increased from

12.07 percent to 16.04 percent and proportion of workers engaged in secondary sector

declined from 34.04 percent in 1981 to 29.76 percent in 2001. The reason for the decrease in

the secondary sector workers is because of the fact that during this period many public and

private units of cottage and household industry have became sick. This was mainly due to old

machinery which was not properly taken care of leading to their lack of efficiency and

ultimately became sick. The growth of the city over a period of time normally results in a

decline in the share of the inner city to the city’s employment.

Table 6: Decadal Growth rate of work force for Srinagar city and its core, 1961-2001

Area 1961 1971 1981 2001

Persons Growth

rate

Persons Growth

rate

Persons Growth

rate

Persons Growth

rate

City 80258 - 111613 139.07 177580 159.10 348846 196.44

Core 40608 - 65438 161.15 96413 147.33 161389 167.4




Figure 7: Decadal growth rate of sectoral employment of Srinagar Core

According to Jammu and Kashmir industrial department, the cottage and household industry

account for about 72 percent of the total secondary workers. However, the industry has also

faced a setback in the city core as about 65-75 percent of these industrial units turned sick.

Table 6 reveals that while the Srinagar city experienced an increase of 139.07 percent in 1971

to 159.10 percent in the year 1981, the core on the other hand has witnessed a decline in the

growth of its total work force which came down from 161.15 percent in 1971 to 147.33

percent in 1981. Such a decrease in decadal growth rate of work force in the city core can be

ascribed to a decrease in primary and Tertiary sector workers. Srinagar city and its core have

registered a decline in the decadal growth rate of work force which decreased from 159.10

percent in 1981 to 196.44 percent in 2001. The Srinagar city core which is a symbol of

Kashmir arts and crafts has turned congested. The shifting of the industries as well as the

disorganization of industries existing in the city core has greatly affected the economic base

of the core. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy is needed to revitalize the core.

4.4 Water supply and sewage system

Core being the oldest part of a city has the oldest infrastructure particularly water supply and

drainage system. According to the SMP, 2000-21, Water supply in Srinagar city is to the

extent of 92 percent being presently supplied from perennial sourced. Dachigam nallah is

tapped at Harwan and Sindh extension canal at Rangil and Alesteng. These two sources

supply 41.80 million gallons per day (MGD) water through gravity.

Table 7: Length of lanes and drains of poor Conditions in Srinagar Core, 2001

S. No. Area name Length of lanes in Kms Length of drains in Kms

1 Lal Chowk 1.25 1.5

2 Karan Nagar 7.3 3.7

3 Karfalli Mohalla 10.5 9.75

4 Mujahid Manzil 16.75 16.0

5 Habba Kadal 12.0 16.8

6 Zaina Kadal 5.4 8.0

7 Saffa Kadal 1.75 2.0

8 Khanyar 1.2 4.5

9 Hawal 2.4 10.0

Total 58.55 72.25

Most of this water is consumed in the core. There is yet another perennial source of water

supply named as Doodhganga Nallah, but it is not of gravity type. Water to the extent of 7.75

million gallons per day (M.G.D) from this Nallah is pumped from a lift station located on the




left bank of this nallah at a place known as Kralpora. Tube wells have been dug at various

places in and around the city which supply 0.65 million gallons per day (M.G.D) (i.e. only

1.29 percent). Drainage system of the Srinagar city in general and core in particular appears

to have reached a stage when it may go beyond retrieve. The reason is the congestion and less

space available which does not allow modifications in the current drainage system. The first

trunk sewer was constructed about 50 years back from Hazoori Bagh to Darish Kadal over a

length of about 2.60 km (Srinagar Water Master Plan, 2007). At Darish Kadal, its drain water

is pumped and dumped unthreatened into Sonar Khul Nallah, which leads to river Jhelum.

The sewers remains quite often flooded and choked, which cause lot of pressure on the

sewage treatment plant at Brari Nambal. In additional to this, the only sewage treatment plant

existing in the city core of Srinagar city has resulted in an unnecessary increase in the running

length of the sewer which is not technically feasible in city like Srinagar were varied

topography exists.

Figure 8: Percentage of lanes in poor Figure 9: Percentage of drains in

condition for condition Srinagar city poor for Srinagar city core, 2001.

core, 2001

According to Srinagar Municipal Corporation more than 3000 sheep’s are slaughtered in the

city daily. The reason is the area is mostly occupied by Muslims who take meat regularly.

However, there are only four slaughter house, out of which slaughter house at Rainawari and

Pampore are functional. Municipality has identifies 9 sites for the construction of mini-

slaughter houses in and outside the core area. These include Rainawari, Basant Bagh,

Nowpora, Safa Kadal, Chattabal, Chotta bazar, Nawsherra, Hazaratbal and Natipora.

According to ‘Urban Development Plan Formulation and implementation’ (U.D.P.F.I.). guide

lines, the generation of waste varies from about a quarter of a kilometre in small towns to

about half a kilogram per capita in large and metro cities. But, it has to be admitted that the

production of solid waste in any urban area, big or small, is a function of socio-economic

profile of the population and activities in the area. The Urban Environment Engineering

Department (U.E.E.D) has identified the river Jhelum as the Drainage Basin for almost the

entire city. Garbage and solid waste is thrown in the river which has deteriorated the chemical

content of the river as well as Dul Lake. There is a partially combined sewerage and drainage

system in the city core/ in spite of the fact that the city core is being served by the drainage

system, the condition of drains in the area is not satisfactory. Table 7 shows that about 72.25

percent of running length of drains is in poor condition. Also, the condition of the lanes and




drains in the area is highly deteriorated in ward Mujahid Manzil and Habba Kadal followed

by Hawal, Karfalli Mohalla and Zaina Kadal. The condition of the lanes and drains in

different wards of Srinagar city is shown in map 8 and map 9.

4.5 Solid waste management

Solid waste is non-liquid waste produced from various sources like residential houses and

hotels, commercial establishments, industries, houseboats and doongas etc. This include all

sorts of discarded materials like paper, broken and corroded material, broken glass, used

bottles and furnishings, worn out clothing’s, polythene bags, waste material from industries

of all types etc. Residential areas, business and commercial centres contribute heavily in

generation of solid waste known as garbage, industry waste emanate from industries of all

type, such as wood products, leather good manufacture, paper products, hosiery, rubber and

plastic, chemical products, mineral products, automobile workshops, repair workshops,

woollen mills etc.

According to U.D.P.F.I. guide lines, the generation of waste varies from about a quarter of a

kilometre in small towns to about half a kilogram per capita in large and metro cities. But, it

has to be admitted that the production of solid waste in any urban area, big or small, is a

function of socio-economic profile of the population and activities in the area. According to

Srinagar Municipal Corporation for the year 2000, the solid waste production works out to be

332 grams/capita/days respectively. The total transfer of the solid waste from the collection

points to the disposal sites is totally mechanized in the core. The total quantity of waste

collected from the city core by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation is 112 tonnes per day.

House to house waste collection is not carried out by Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Solid

waste is collected from the streets and roadsides and other areas by the Srinagar Municipal

Corporation.

Table 8: Ward wise garbage collection points and percentage of households without sewage

connections in Srinagar city core

S. No. Ward name Garbage Collection

points

percentage of households without

sewage connection

1 Lal Chowk 13 5.8

2 Karan Nagar 12 15.5

3 Karfalli Mohalla 8 42.6

4 Mujahid manzil 10 37.8

5 Habba Kadal 8 34.6

6 Zaina Kadal 3 31.3

7 Saffa Kadal 12 28.2

8 Khanyar 10 23.5

9 Hawal 31 17.5

Total Core 107

Total City 308

The Safai Karmchari (sweepers) collects the garbage and takes it to the collection points.

Solid waste management in city core is critical from the point of view of health. There are

about 308 collection points spread all over the city, most of which are concentrated in the city

core (107). It is clear from Table 8 that 42.6 percent of households in Karfalli Mohalla is

without sewage connection which itself highlights the poor condition of the area. Mujahid

Manzil and Habba Kadal have 37.8 percent and 34.6 percent households without sewage

connections respectively. Lal Chowk has the least number of households without sewage




connection (5.80 percent) followed by Karan Nagar (15.5 percent) which may be due to the

fact that both are a part of central business district where development and redevelopment is

taking place at great pace. The process of loading and unloading is also done by highly

mechanized vehicles. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation owns about 52 trucks, 10 loaders

and a couple of dumper placers. Vehicles, especially in smaller urban centres, are often not

replaced even when there is a dire need to replace them. Since the segregation is not done at

the source, recycling is not done. Disposal is by way of landfill located outside the city core

with an area of 700 kanals (I Kanal = 20 hectares). The absence of house to house collected

which causes the littering of waste onto the street, the inter-distance between two collection

points is between 1.5-2.0 Kms, which reduce the collection efficiency. Solid waste

management in inner city is very critical from the point of view of health and hygiene. Solid

waste management is a labour intensive activity requiring adequate staff.

Figure 10: Percentage of HH without Figure 11: Garbage collection points

sewage connections in Srinagar city. in Srinagar city core, core 2001.

5. Conclusion

The Srinagar city core has under gone a socio-economic degeneration which can be accessed

from decreasing trend of population density (354 person’s per hectare in 1981 to 324 persons

per hectare in 2001) and participation ratio (30.6 percent in 1981 to 26.75 percent in 2001).

The Srinagar city core has about 67 percent of the total buildings in poor or derelict

conditions which have nearly turned it into a slum. The presence of slums near Abi Guzar,

Maisuma and Goni Khan with a population of 4948 in 2001 spreading over an area of 12.5

hectares poses a great threat to the socio-economic conditions and image of the city. The

poor quality of residential environment is worsening by the inadequacy of parks and play

grounds in the area (only 4.5 hectares). The sewage connection of the city core is not in good

condition as 42.6 percent of Karfalli Mohalla and 37.8 percent of Mujahid Manzil, 34.6

percent of Habba Kadal and 31.3 percent of Zaina Kadal is without sewage connections.

Also, due to inefficient sewage system and encroachment along their banks, river Jhelum and

its channels have turned into sewage nallahs thereby causing unhygienic conditions. The

banks of river Jhelum and its channels have been misused and encroached upon by the




people as the house boats and doongas are found moving along both sides of these water

bodies. Thus, removal of these encroachments is necessary in order to restore them. Also,

with three fourth of the total buildings in the city core declared poor by the Srinagar Master

Plan (2000-21) on one hand and high density of population on the other, the core will register

shortage in houses in near future. There is a need for revitalization of the city core for

economic efficiency including up gradation of infrastructure, poverty reduction, employment

creation, promotion of commerce, trade and tourism etc.

6. References

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