Timely completion of exercise least priority for TPO
Delay creates hurdles in ensuring planned development
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 5: Though more than two years have lapsed since their notification yet Draft Master Plans of several towns have not been finalized even after inviting suggestions and objections from the public mainly because of slackness at the level of Town Planning Organization (TPO). Due to this, numerous difficulties are being encountered by the administration in the districts in ensuring planned development.
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As per the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, the Town Planning Organization submitted Draft Master Plans of Ramban and Banihal towns to the district administration for publication. Accordingly, vide two separate notifications dated June 13, 2022, these Draft Master Plans were published under Section 10(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act and Rules framed there-under.
Even the Draft Master Plans were uploaded on the websites of Town Planning Organization, Jammu, District Development Commissioner Ramban and Housing and Urban Development Department for inviting objections and suggestions within a period of 60 days.
Both these notifications were issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Member Secretary of Ramban Development Authority).
Similarly, Draft Master Plan of Reasi was notified on March 17, 2022 by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Member Secretary of Reasi Development Authority) for inviting objections and suggestions within a period of 60 days.
The Member Secretary of Ramban Development Authority as well as of Reasi Development Authority submitted the objections and suggestions to the Town Planning Organization for finalization so that all the developmental activities in Ramban, Banihal and Reasi are carried out strictly as per the approved Master Plans.
However, despite lapse of more than two years the Draft Master Plans have not been finalized by the Town Planning Organization for the reasons best known to those at the helm of affairs in the organization, which functions under the administrative control of Housing and Urban Development Department, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“This indicates that Town Planning Organization, which is supposed to guide the authorities on sustainable development of cities and towns, is least concerned about its primary task”, sources said, adding “what was the objective of framing the Draft Master Plans if the same were not to be finalized for planned development of respective towns”.
They further said, “if this is the fate of Draft Master Plans for three towns, how the Town Planning Organization will translate the Government’s announcement about preparation and finalization of Master Plans for all the 78 cities and towns of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir remains a million dollar question”.
When contacted, Chief Town Planner Jammu, Jagdish Raj Hans refused to divulge the details. However, some other officers in the Town Planning Organization said, “the Draft Master Plans are lying in the Housing and Urban Development Department”.
EXCELSIOR contacted Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban, who is also Member Secretary of the Ramban Development Authority to ascertain whether any communication has been received from the Town Planning Organization in respect of Draft Master Plans of Ramban and Banihal. However, he fanned ignorance even about the draft and said, “Additional District Development Commissioner might have been handling this subject”.
When approached, the Additional District Development Commissioner said, “I don’t know who has prepared the draft and what the latest status is”.
However, officers in the Reasi district administration said, “we have asked the Town Planning Organization to finalize the draft and formally notify the same so that we can plan all our developmental activities accordingly”.
It is pertinent to mention here that a Master Plan is a comprehensive document that guides the development of a town by outlining a long-term vision for its growth and development. It’s a statutory document that helps define a town’s physical, economic and social transformation.
Moreover, Master Plan conserves and improves a town’s character, ensures long-term vitality, aligns development with values and manages urbanization.
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