*Progress to be reviewed on monthly basis
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 18: Finally, the State Government has woken up to slow pace of land acquisition for construction of ring roads around Jammu and Srinagar cities and constituted separate Task Force for early and time-bound finalization of land acquisition cases. Now, the progress of land acquisition will be monitored regularly and reviewed after every month so that construction work is started as early as possible.
In its edition dated October 11, EXCELSIOR had exclusively highlighted that land acquisition was at its infancy in Jammu while as unrest has created hurdles in carrying out such an exercise for the ring road in Srinagar. It was also brought to the fore that there was lack of coordination between different agencies involved in land acquisition and shifting of utilities that are coming up on the proposed corridor of the ring roads.
EXCELSIOR had further brought to the public domain that unless land acquisition process is completed in respect of both the ring roads National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) would not be able to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways.
Following revelations by EXCELSIOR, the issue was discussed at the highest level in the Government and accordingly it was decided that a Task Force would be constituted for early and time-bound finalization of land acquisition cases for construction of ring roads around Jammu and Srinagar cities, sources said.
Now, Gazzanfer Hussain, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, General Administration Department, has issued order No.1108-GAD dated October 17, 2016 whereby sanction has been accorded to the constitution of Task Force for Kashmir and Jammu Divisions respectively for early and time-bound finalization of land acquisition cases for ring roads.
Divisional Commissioners of Jammu/Kashmir would be the Chairman of the respective Task Force while as Deputy Commissioner of concerned district, Chief Engineer of R&B Jammu/Kashmir, Project Director, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Jammu/Srinagar, Additional Commissioner with Divisional Commissioner Jammu/Kashmir and Collector, Land Acquisition of the concerned district would be the members of the respective Task Force.
Each Task Force will take all necessary steps for quick and time-bound finalization of land acquisition cases related to construction of ring roads and follow-up the cases at various levels. Moreover, the Task Force will project the requirement of funds for land acquisition to NHAI/Public Works Department from time to time and ensure proper liaison with the concerned departments/ organizations of State/Central Governments as may be necessary for quick disposal of land acquisition cases.
It has explicitly been mentioned in the GAD order that Task Force will review and monitor the progress of land acquisition on monthly basis including the position of receipt of funds/disbursements made to rightful land owners and report progress to Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Revenue Department and Public Works Department under intimation to NHAI.
“The Task Force will be free to co-opt any other officer(s) as may be required for its smooth functioning”, reads the order.
Pointing towards the land acquisition exercise already going on in respect of Jammu ring road, sources said, “the Government should ensure that construction work is initiated soon after completion of this process instead of waiting for finalization of land acquisition process in respect of Srinagar ring road, which is going to take much time due to prevailing situation”.
It is pertinent to mention here that under Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir, which was announced by the Union Government on November 7, 2015, a provision of Rs 3260 crore was kept for construction of two ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar in order to decongest these capital cities. Of this Rs 3260 crore provision, Rs 1860 crore was earmarked for ring road in Srinagar and Rs 1400 crore for ring road in Jammu.
In Jammu the ring road would be taken up in two phases. In Phase-I, the ring road would start from Thandi Khui near Vijaypur and reach Akhnoor via Derian while in Phase-II, the road would be taken from Akhnoor to Jagti in Nagrota and linked with Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. With this entire traffic bound to Srinagar and five districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar will be directed through ring road from Vijaypur and immensely help in reducing the traffic burden on Vijaypur-Jammu road and entire Jammu city including BC Road.
For Jammu ring road, the NHAI is required to acquire 330 hectares of land in 52 villages while as for Srinagar ring road 377 hectares of land is to be acquired.
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