Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla has said that Government is committed to regularize all the unauthorized colonies in the State and in this regard a process has been initiated by the Housing Department for early regularization and planned development of the localities with all basic facilities.
Minister of State for Home, R&B, Mechanical Engineering, Housing, Urban Development, Tourism & Culture, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo was also present in the meeting.
Mr. Bhalla said that Government has already regularized 31 unauthorized colonies of Jammu. He said these colonies have been developed with all basic facilities like safe drinking water, road connectivity, education, health, power besides better lanes and drains.
The Minister further said that Government has identified 20 unauthorized colonies under the jurisdiction of Jammu Development Authority and J&K Housing Board for regularization. He said in this connection, a high level committee headed by Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department has been constituted for early completion of the formalities.
Addressing the officers, Mr. Kichloo said that over the years, due to urbanization and influx of population towards Jammu and Srinagar cities, a large number of unauthorized colonies have come up in a haphazard manner, resulting in unplanned development of these colonies. Although, the Government has been providing all basic amenities there for sustaining the needs of the householders but still there is lack of proper infrastructure and healthy development of these unauthorized colonies.
The Minister informed that Government has identified some unauthorized colonies and initiated the process for their regularization with planned development and necessary infrastructure.
Commissioning-Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, Jeet Lal Gupta, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation Kuldeep Lal Khajuria, Managing Director Housing Board, Kiran Wattal, Secretary Housing Board, Rampaul Sharma, Joint Director Planning and Development besides other senior officers of Housing Board and Jammu Development Authority were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr Bhalla laid foundation of deep drill tubewell at Channi Himmat near Matador Stand.
Mr. Bhalla said that Government has earmarked Rs. 1.75 crore for improvement of Water Supply at Bhagatpura, Thanger and Sector 1-A Channi Himmat areas. He said the one-lakh gallon discharge capacity tubewell would be commissioned within two months, adding that after dedication, no household of Bhagatpura, Thanger, 1-A Channi Himmat, Bakerwal Colony in Sunjwan would remain without adequate drinking water facilities.
For providing adequate drinking water facilities up to tail end of the areas, the Minister informed that Government has formulated a comprehensive plan for laying of water supply pipes of length 52 kilometer in the area. He said the project would be started by Economic Reconstruction Agency soon after completing the tendering formalities.
Mr. Bhalla asked the executing agency to gear up their men and machinery in completing the project in double shifts so that the people do not face any inconvenience due to this vital facility during summer season.
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