Govt frames Empowered Committees
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: Finally, the Government has constituted three Empowered Committees for scrutinizing the applications for regularization of illegal/ unauthorized constructions in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and holy town of Katra under the new policy.
The policy was notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department vide SRO-391 dated September 20, 2017 in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2014. However, the General Administration Department was soft-paddling on framing of Empowered Committees, which otherwise are supposed to play vital role in the implementation of the policy.
The dilly-dallying approach was exclusively highlighted by EXCELSIOR in its edition dated October 24 mentioning that delay in framing of Empowered Committees by the General Administration Department was creating hurdles in implementation of the policy.
The Commissioner/ Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department Khurshid Ahmad today issued Order No.1376 framing three Empowered Committees—one each for Jammu City, Srinagar City and Katra town.
As per the order, Divisional Commissioner Jammu is the chairman of the Empowered Committee for Jammu city with Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Chief Engineer R&D, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Samba, Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation and Chief Town Planner, Town Planning Organization Jammu as its members.
Similarly, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir is the chairman of the Empowered Committee for Srinagar city with VC SDA, VC Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Chief Engineer R&B, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, SMC Commissioner and Chief Town Planner, Town Planning Organization as its members.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi is the chairman of the Empowered Committee for Katra town with Chief Town Planner, Town Planning Organization Jammu, Chief Executive Officer, Katra Development Authority, Administrator Municipal Committee Katra, Chief Executive Officer Municipal Committee Katra and Executive Engineer, R&B Katra as its members.
These Empowered Committees, as per the order, will bring the illegal and unauthorized buildings/constructions and land use or building use conversions into the planning framework to the extent possible; facilitate the implementation of Master Plans under revision; scrutinize all the documents as prescribed by the competent authority submitted in connection with compounding and regularization of layout/plots/buildings which have been constructed and completed before December 31, 2016.
The Empowered Committees shall not recommend illegal/unauthorized building for regularization in case of building coming in the proposals of the widening of roads in Master Plan or in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan; over-flood absorption basis/vulnerable slopes; over lands belonging to the State or Central Governments etc; in case precincts/sites coming under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and any other Act prohibiting the developments in a particular area; in case the use is obnoxious or hazardous as per the Master Plan, the J&K Municipal Act, 2000, J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, J&K Development Act, 1970 or any other Act in vogue etc.
These Committees will also ensure that such regularization doesn’t violate the provisions of any other Act/legislation in vogue specific to each particular structure/site.
The Empowered Committees, after scrutinizing all the documents in each case within 45 days of submission of reference shall come up with the proposed amendments in the plan, if any, and will seek comments/consent of the applicant within 25 days.
After receiving the consent, the Empowered Committees will approve the building plan and then recommend to the competent authority for regularization of the construction or building use change or otherwise.
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