With industrialization and growth of economy of the country and the State, there appeared the phenomenon of migration of rural population to urban area because the latter promised more opportunities of employment and some more facilities. Urbanization process expanded rapidly so much so that municipal authorities found that they could not cope with the problems accompanying urbanization. That is why a massive propaganda was unleashed discouraging the rural folks from migrating to the cities. However, this proved damp squib and populations in large numbers migrated to urban areas especially the twin-capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. Jammu city was massively under pressure because not only migratory labourers from outside the city came for work and temporary settlement but there was also great influx of refugees from Kashmir migrants to the migrants from border areas where Pakistani shelling and bombing has caused havoc with the local population.
Thus Jammu had much more influx of outsiders than Srinagar. People need some shelter on their heads. Thus a large number of unauthorized colonies came up. Of course these came up haphazardly throwing to winds the norms and standard laid down by the Municipal authorities in regard to expanding localities. A large number of colonies came up haphazardly unmindful of sanitation and environmental requirements. These colonies have narrow streets and no drains and defective drains. Water and electricity supply is uncertain and unpredictable. Houses have become ghettoes and narrow streets have become crowded and cramped. There is no provision for parking, play grounds for children, parks and street lights and other amenities. And these unauthorized colonies went on multiplying.
Ultimately, owing to public and political pressure, the Government considered tackling the issue of regularization of these colonies and constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The mandate of the committee was to examine the issue and prepare a broader policy vis-à-vis mode and extent of regularization of unauthorized colonies within the areas under the jurisdiction of Jammu Development Authority, Srinagar Development Authority and Housing Board in twin capital cities. Subsequently in May 2013, Housing and Urban Development Department constituted two sub-committees to carry forward the task assigned to the main committee. As a result the sub-committees recommended regularization of total 22 unauthorized colonies; 21 in Jammu and one in Srinagar. Some legislators had reservations on the recommendation of the sub-committee and it was decided to reconsider the left over areas in consultation with the concerned legislators. However, nothing happened. Consequent upon a Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA) filed before the Division Bench of the State High Court headed by the then Chief Justice M M Kumar, the Housing and Urban Development Department was directed by the court to frame a comprehensive policy on regularization of unauthorized colonies and till then the concerned authorities were restrained from initiating regularization process. The DB observed that regularization could not be permitted unless there was a detailed scheme with regard to reimbursement of land price to be fixed by taking into consideration various factors in respect of land underneath the illegal colonies. The ground situation is that Housing and Urban Development Department has not initiated any step towards framing the policy as directed by the High Court. Even no serious discussion has taken place on the subject since the passing of directions by the High Court. More than a year has passed and the Housing Department has not moved its finger despite the directions from the High Court. Delay in having a broad and comprehensive policy for regularization of unauthorized colonies is highly detrimental to the health of the capital city of Jammu. The influx of population into the city is unabated and people are forced by exigency of life to find a shelter. It means that the Housing Department by delaying the formation of a comprehensive policy is encouraging growth and expansion of unauthorized colonies. This practice must stop forthwith. People are mystified that on one hand the Government talks of planned developed and planed cities and smart cities etc. but on the other hand the same Government is allowing growth of unauthorized colonies in the proximity of the capital city of Jammu. This is contradiction in terms and has to be stopped at any cost.
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