* No action on blatant violations of new Jammu Master Plan
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 19: Contrary to the tall claims of the Government about ensuring strict implementation of new Jammu Master Plan, there is no action on the blatant violations in the construction of commercial as well as residential buildings mainly because of lack of coordination between Jammu Municipal Corporation and Jammu Development Authority.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that when the new Jammu Master Plan was approved by the State Cabinet early this year, it was stated by the Housing and Urban Development Department that all the concerned agencies particularly the Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committees will extend required cooperation to the Jammu Development Authority as Master Plan-2032 also spreads over an area under the jurisdiction of Jammu Municipal Corporation and other Municipal Committees.
However, within months after the approval of the Master Plan, lack of coordination between the Jammu Development (JDA) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has surfaced as a result of which no action is being taken on blatant violations taking place in different parts of City of Temples and its outskirts.
Quoting an example, sources said that on the basis of some reports Jammu Development Authority constituted a team of officers vide Order No.VC/PS/2017/560-66 dated July 19, 2017 to check the violations in the construction of buildings within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
The team visited several under-construction sites on Akhnoor Road on July 29, 2017 and took the necessary measurements. Thereafter, Town Planning Section of the Jammu Development Authority vide Communication No.CTP/ JDA/ Gen/ 161-63 dated August 4, 2017 furnished the list of violations identified by the team of JDA to the concerned wing of the Jammu Municipal Corporation for necessary action in a time bound manner.
Among the violators identified by the JDA were Swastic Enterprises, J P Gupta Enterprises, Jain Marble, Vimala Complex and K C Emporia Complex, all on Akhnoor Road.
On August 18, 2017, the Town Planning Section of Jammu Municipal Corporation vide Communication No.768-70/Bs/17 conveyed to the Jammu Development Authority that JMC would check the violations brought to its notice. However, till date no action has been taken in respect of majority of the violations pointed out by the JDA, sources informed.
They said, “the work on the buildings which were found violating the provisions of Jammu Master Plan and Building Byelaws is still going on and this clearly indicates that either the Jammu Municipal Corporation has not taken action or has deliberately turned blind eye towards the same”.
“The lack of necessary cooperation from the Enforcement Wing of the Jammu Municipal Corporation is notwithstanding the fact that Housing and Urban Development Department vide Communication No.71/2017 dated August 8, 2017 had explicitly conveyed to the Jammu Municipal Corporation that JDA has the mandate of overall supervision/monitoring of the Jammu Master Plan in JMC limits and Municipal Committees as the jurisdiction of JDA includes 324 villages including JMC area”, sources said.
“You are advised to cooperate with Jammu Development Authority in the implementation of Master Plan”, read the communication of Housing and Urban Development Department addressed to Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner.
What was the fun of framing new Jammu Master Plan-2032 if the violations were to be ignored even after detection of the same? sources asked, adding “the earlier Master Plan had also failed to yield the desired results mainly because of lack of coordination between the concerned agencies”.
“If the Housing and Urban Development Department failed to immediately ensure proper cooperation between the two key agencies entrusted with the responsibility of strict implementation of new Jammu Master Plan, the City of Temples would never become an organized city”, sources remarked and hoped that those at the helm of affairs in the Housing and Urban Development Department will pass strict directions to the Jammu Municipal Corporation for acting on each and every violation being brought to its notice either by the people or by any Government agency.
They suggested that Administrative Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department should clearly define the role and duties of Jammu Development Authority and Jammu Municipal Corporation vis-à-vis implementation of new Master Plan-2032 so that none of these agencies can falter on initiating action against the violations in a time bound manner.
“It is only by way of timely action in the identified cases of violations that a clear message can be send to each and every person that Government is serious in ensuring implementation of new Master Plan in letter and spirit”, sources said.
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