CM orders survey of LIG, EWS families to assess requirement of housing colonies in J&K
The state government has announced to bring 103 villages under the ambit of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 for planned development of the winter capital and its suburbs.
Prior to this, the government has decided to put the new Master Plan in public domain to seek suggestions from the citizens for a comprehensive proposal before it is vetted by the state Cabinet.
These decisions were taken by a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, here last evening. The meeting was convened to review the progress of ongoing projects being undertaken by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA). The Chief Minister noted with concern that most of the projects under implementation in Jammu were not on fast-track.
“On the issue of revision of the Jammu Master Plan-2021, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to expedite the proposal so that it is referred to the Cabinet for ratification. As many as 103 villages will be brought under the ambit of the Jammu Master Plan-2032,” an official spokesperson said, adding that the revised Master Plans of Jammu and Srinagar cities had been prepared on the basis of digital maps, based on GPS (global positioning system).
The Chief Minister also directed the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD), headed by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, to carry out a comprehensive survey of houseless Low Income Group (LIG) families and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) so that a “fair assessment” is made about the actual requirement of housing colonies in the state.
The spokesperson said the he (CM) also laid emphasis on keeping provision of well-laid out roads, schools, hospitals, malls, parks and other basic amenities while developing group residential colonies and flats. “As a matter of policy, a portion of flats should be earmarked for EWS and LIG families,” he stressed.
Laying stress on creating a land bank to conceive future projects, Mufti directed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, to facilitate handing over the possession of those tracts of land to the JDA which have been transferred to the authority from time to time.
He said work could not go on in bits and pieces and steps on a fast-track basis had to be initiated to hand over land to the JDA. “We need sites to set up new residential colonies to provide affordable housing to the houseless people,” he said and observed that the government could not shut its eyes to a huge crisis unfolding on the housing front.
Kotwal informed the Chief Minister that the process (of handing over land) required allocation of funds for demarcation and fencing as also engaging patwaris to achieve the task.
“The JDA is expected to accord approval to hiring of retired patwaris for a fixed period of six months in its next governing body meeting on September 15,” he said.