One meeting postponed, no fresh date announced
Present confusion due to casual approach in plan formulation
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 26: Housing and Urban Development Department has failed to initiate any step for removal of discrepancies from the Jammu Master Plan even nearly one month after being approached formally by the Divisional Commissioner for prompt revision of Plan so as to facilitate holistic development of Jammu.
The Divisional Commissioner Jammu vide communication dated July 31, 2021 had brought all the glaring discrepancies in the Jammu Master Plan-2032 to the notice of the Principal Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department with the submission that process of revision of Master Plan may be initiated as per laid down norms for holistic development of Jammu.
It was also mentioned in the communication that though Section 7 of the J&K Development Act read with Section 13 of J&K Development Rules, 1976 states that Authority may amend the whole or any part of the Master Plan at the expiry of every five years yet there is also a provision, which mentions that the Authority on considering the circumstances prevailing at any particular time may amend the Master Plan or any part at any time prior to the expiry of the period.
Twelve days after the receipt of communication of Divisional Commissioner the Additional Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department issued a notice mentioning that a meeting regarding revision of Jammu Master Plan was scheduled to be held on August 16, 2021 and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Vice-Chairman Srinagar Development Authority, Chief Town Planner Kashmir and Chief Town Planner Jammu should attend the meeting.
Later, the meeting was postponed without giving any reason and since then no date has been announced for convening meeting despite being aware of the fact that prevailing discrepancies in the Jammu Master Plan are required to be removed as early as possible, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“All this indicates that Housing and Urban Development Department is not showing any seriousness in resolving the issue which is hampering the developmental activities”, they said, adding “these discrepancies are existing in the Master Plan as those who were involved in its framing handled the task casually and without application of mind”.
The process for preparation of Master Plan of Jammu was initiated in the year 2011 by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) through consultants and subsequently the task was completed in house by the JDA. Finally, the Master Plan was approved and notified by the Government vide SRO-90 dated March 3, 2017.
“At the time of granting approval to the Master Plan the Housing and Urban Development Department should have held discussion on the developmental profile changed since the initiation of exercise for preparation of Master Plan in 2011”, sources further said, adding “earlier there was inept handling of task and now non-serious approach towards revision exercise has created confusion not only among the authorities responsible for implementation of Master Plan but also among the people”.
As per the Jammu Development Authority, the implementing agency for Master Plan, in many cases the land under the ownership of JDA has been shown as water body, nullah, open spaces, buffer spaces and forest uses etc in the Jammu Master Plan-2032.
This has obviated the objective of the Jammu Development Department to carry out building, engineering and other operations to execute works in connection with the supply of essential services and amenities to improve living condition of the people for which land-use would have been carefully indicated without compromising with the green spaces as per required norms.
Highlighting the grounds which necessitate revision of Master Plan, sources said that after reorganization of J&K State, amendments in the Development Act were made to pave the way for new development projects.
The amendment reads: “Upon coming into operation of Master Plan or a Zonal Plan, the land use permitted in the area covered there-under shall only be as provided in terms of such Master Plan or Zonal Plan. The provisions of J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996 or any other law for the time being in force requiring any permission to change the land usage of any land shall not be applicable to any land so covered”.
“The Government may, by notification in the official gazette, notify a scheme for levy of charges for use of land as permitted in the Master Plan or the Zonal Plan, the proceeds where shall for part of the fund of the Authority and may be used to defray the expenses incurred on acquisition of land”, the amendment further reads.
By virtue of this amendment the land-use envisaged in the Master Plan has superior role hence has to be exact and accurate. Some new projects launched within the local area of Jammu Master Plan-2032 having radiating effect (development corridors) on the overall scenario of the local area of Master Plan are Jammu-Katra Expressway, Jammu-Akhnoor Road widening and flyover, Ring Road from Raya Morh to Nagrota and Jammu Metrolite Rail Projects.
“The composite mixed land use regulations as envisaged in Jammu Master Plan will be an important factor along these transport corridors”, sources said, adding “the other discrepancies are non-notification of 98 villages within the local area and super imposition of forest maps in Jammu Master Plan etc.
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