LC panel aghast over ‘menacing’ Master Plan violations Legislators seek fixing responsibility for ‘wrongdoings’ √RAJA Srinagar, Oct 23: Expressing serious concern over the glaring Master Plan violations in Srinagar and Jammu, the House Committee of the Legislative Council which met here Wednesday sought an end to the “menace” and “fixing of responsibility” for the wrongdoings. “The menace is to be checked if we want futuristic development of the two cities which have strategic importance in view of the high influx of tourists”, the panel participants said while urging the law enforcing agencies to draw a “pragmatic strategy to deal with the offenders.” They said the “responsibility is to be fixed for these violations”. “While there is no room for blame-game or digging out the skeletons, yet there is need for creating some sort of deterrence to discourage this tendency, the committee maintained,” an official handout said. “To discuss the issues regarding conversion of residential land for commercial purposes in violation of the Master Plans of Srinagar and Jammu, a meeting of the House Committee of Legislative Council was held,” it added. Member Legislative Council Devender Singh Rana, who is chairman of the panel, presided over the meeting. Legislators Sayeed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi, Jugal Kishore and Muhammed Ashraf Mir were among others present in the meeting. The meeting discussed “threadbare various facets of urban development with special emphasis on the Master Plan for Srinagar and Jammu.” The Committee emphasized the need for “strict implementation of the Master Plan norms against conversion of residential areas for commercial activities in the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu, saying the violators should be sternly dealt with.” It also observed that the menace of converting housing units into commercial spaces by violating building by-laws has unfortunately received momentum over the years thus posing threat to urban living, the handout said. MLC Naeem Akhtar in his remarks said the concerned have got habitual of crying over the spilt milk. “All including VIPs happen to pass the roads where and when (Master Plan) violations take place but nobody interferes. However, to cry over the spilt milk, we start probing it when the damage is done,” he said. About Srinagar he said the first victim of unplanned urbanization were the city’s water bodies. “First Bemina fell victim and now same is coming true for Anchar and Khushhaalsar etc,” he said. He said the mountainous Kashmir has a land crunch for built up area. “We have filled up ditches and lakes to raise residential colonies which have such drainage problems that will never end,” he said. Referring to Army and paramilitary camps that occupy inhabitable highlands, Akhtar said: They have developed beautiful cities of their own but no such advantageous site was left for people.” He, however, said the violations of building permission happened but only through local connivance of the enforcement squads of SMC and SDA. The members expressed concern over unauthorized structures coming up in the cities and violations being committed by ignoring the building plans. They said that the “watch and ward wings of the civic bodies should be made accountable for unauthorized buildings and extension in the existing dwelling units.” Referring to the formulation of Master Plans for the twin cities, the Committee called for futuristic planning, keeping in view the faster growth and expansion of the cities. “While devising such plans, the aesthetic grandeur of the historic cities should be kept under consideration. The Master Plans, the committee felt, should have components earmarked for the shopping complexes, utility services, hotels, cafeteria, parking slots and recreation spots.” “We have to keep the requirements of coming 20 to 30 years into consideration while formulating master plans”, they added. The LC panel decided to take a review of the Master Plans of the two cities – Srinagar and Jammu – currently under formulation before the same are submitted to the government for approval. The Committee also “dwelt on the issue of unauthorized colonies in the two cities and sought information on the mechanism being adopted to regularize these in order to provide civic amenities and creating various facilities for the residents.” The participants stressed the need for time-bound implementation of various urban development programmes in order to alleviate the quality of life of the residents. Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Satish Nehru, Vice-Chairmen of Srinagar and Jammu Development Authorities, Shafaat Noor Barlas & KL Khajuria, Directors of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir and Jammu, Hilal Ahmad Parray & Arun Kumar Sharma, Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar Municipalities, Kiran Wattal & Dr GN Qasba, Managing Director J&K Housing Board, Ram Pal and Chief Town Planners of Srinagar and Jammu, Iftikhar Hakim and Joginder Singh were present at the meeting.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 03:15:06 +0000
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