JDA told to act against high-value encroachers
*Calls for coordinated urban planning approach
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 11: Taking serious note of the inordinate delay on the part of various departments in timely submission of Action Taken Notes on the audit paragraphs contained in the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Public Accounts Committee of J&K Legislative Assembly has stressed the urgent need for setting up Standing Audit Committees across departments for monitoring and speedy liquidation of pending audit paragraphs.
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In its report for 2025-26, the Committee headed by BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma noted that departments have failed in timely submission of Action Taken Notes, leading to accumulation of pendency and inefficiencies in financial management.
The Committee suggested that all Administrative Secretaries should set-up Standing Audit Committees and hold regular meetings to review pending audit paragraphs and ensure that Action Taken Notes are furnished within the prescribed time frame. It further emphasized that Administrative Secretaries must meet at regular intervals to take stock of pendencies and ensure that Action Taken Notes are invariably submitted within the prescribed period after the presentation of the reports of CAG to the Legislature.
The Committee, which acts as a watchdog over the financial management of public funds, examined the CAG’s reports and scrutinized expenditures to ensure that taxpayer money has been spent efficiently. The Principal Accountant General had also apprised the Committee about the pendency of a large number of audit paragraphs and non-compliance by departments.
While dealing with the issue of urban planning, the Committee observed that departmental representatives must sit together and talk about the real issue of J&K, particularly urban Jammu and urban Srinagar, identify challenges, prepare plans and try to build the system, while pointing to delay in Master Plans.
It flagged that Rs 7.31 crore advanced by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) during 1994-95 to 2006-07 to forty-two officers/officials remained outstanding, with many officers either transferred or retired. The Committee sought the status of recoveries in such cases.
The report noted that although the Housing and Urban Development Department was required to prepare its annual accounts and present them after certification by the CAG to the Legislature, the budgets were passed but the annual accounts (receipts & expenditure) were not presented.
Terming this a clear breach of privilege against the system, the Committee sought reasons for such non-submission, calling these major lacunas.
The Committee further observed that the Municipal Corporations and Development Authorities are face of the Union Territory. The JDA is vested with the power to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of the land and other property.
The audit had observed that 2810 kanals of land was encroached and remained under the illegal occupation. The Committee sought details of the present status of the land bank and the extent of land retrieved by the Jammu Development Authority from illegal occupants/encroachers.
Directing the department to avoid selective demolitions, the Committee said it does not oppose demolitions but stressed prioritizing “big fish”, those who have encroached on five hundred kanals or more stating that such action will convey a strong and clear message.
Regarding the Sidhra-Majeen-Rangora township, the Committee observed that the land acquisition failed despite the process being initiated due to the absence of clear land titles and un-finalized rates. Consequently, the Committee sought clarification on the legal title of the land.
In addition, the Committee noted that 148 plots were illegally allotted to outsiders as pointed out by the CAG and desired to know whether the department has successfully retrieved these plots.
Though the Commissioner Secretary apprised the Committee that queries raised by it were already replied by the department yet the officer admitted that there are some gaps in the information and for that department sought time to submit the reply. Due to this, the audit paragraphs of the CAG audit remained inconclusive.
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