MC Shopian wins award for beautification work around Jamia Masjid

Shopian, Mar 2: The Municipal Council Shopian MCS) has bagged the coveted City Beautification Award by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

The MCS has won the prestigious award under the beautiful heritage site category for historic Jamia Masjid Shopian.

The other two Municipalities from Kashmir winning the award included Municipal Committee Tangmarg/ Gulmarg and Municipal Committee Kunzar in Beautiful Ward and Beautiful Green Space categories respectively .

The three award winning municipalities are among the 37 urban local bodies, which had registered for the coveted award.

The MCS over the last few years refurbished the roads around the historic Jamia Masjid and installed antique lights along them.

The district administration also carried out the renovation work of the Jamia Masjid.

“It was part of our beautification drive”, said Suhail Malik, the recently transferred Executive Officer of MCS, under whose ward and watch the beautification drive was carried out in the entire town.

During the drive, the MCS painted the bare walls of the town with graffiti and murals. It also constructed a 52 feet tall clock tower near Gole Chowk.

Sprawling over 9 kanals, Jamia Masjid Shopian is the second largest mosque after Jamia Masjid Srinagar.

The City Beauty competition was designed and conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

The competition was aimed at inculcating the competitive spirit within the urban areas. The awards have been given after assessing the towns and cities on certain parameters. The key factors evaluated during the assessment process included the ease of site accessibility, access to services and facilities, artistic and cultural activities connecting communities, beauty of the space and environmental conservation and sustainability.