Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 30: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today said that the Government was embarking on a massive plan to develop multipurpose community halls, shopping and residential complexes over vacant Evacuee Property (EP) land to make it a recurring source of revenue generation.
The Minister said this while addressing a large gathering here at Udhaywalla after laying foundation stone of a community hall on 20 Kanal Evacuee land available in the area. MLA Bharat Bhushan, District Development Commissioner Sanjev Verma, Custodian General E P Abdul Majeed Mir, Custodian EP Abdul Majeed Wani besides other senior officers of EP, Revenue Departments and locals in large numbers were present on the occasion.
Mr. Bhalla said that the proposed multipurpose community hall would have the facilities of 10-room marriage hall, kitty party hall, toilet block, lawn and parking. He said estimated to cost about Rs. 8 crore, the community hall was stipulated to be completed within 18 months. He said on its completion, the hall would be available for organising functions on nominal fee.
The Minister appreciated the efforts being made by the officers and officials of the EP department in retrieving about 1400 kanals of land from land grabbers at Panchavati, Chinor, Seeri, Damaal, Akhnoor, Udhaywala, Sunjwan , R. S Pura and Vijaypur areas of Jammu and Samba districts.
The Minister said EP Department has constructed 30 residential flats comprising 10 blocks at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crore at Meen Sarkar in Bari Brahamna. He said the residential flats would be allotted to the applicants on the prescribed rates for office and residential purposes.
Mr. Bhalla said that EP Department is also constructing multipurpose community halls at Wazarat Road, Oriental shopping Mall at Chand Nagar, residential flats at Anand Nagar and Dhamwal in Jammu. He said for this purpose the Government has earmarked Rs. 9 crore. The Minister said that the EP Department has also constructed office complexes at Srinagar besides many other commercial projects across the State, adding that most of these projects are nearing completion.
He informed that a comprehensive plan has been prepared for renovation and upkeep of EP in the State, adding that the department has been asked to charge nominal fee from tenants who are chronic patients and physically challenged, besides those who fall in Below Poverty Line category. The Minister said that the Government has revised EP rules to ensure that the tenants may not face any problem in maintenance of the property they are living in. He said that permission for repairs of old evacuee houses would be granted within 21 days by the concerned Custodian Officers without charging any amount in any form.
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