Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 2: Though State Government is determined for inclusion of 35 new wards in the ambit of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), the draft notification for which was issued some times back but the final decision in this regard is likely to be taken after the election process to Municipal Corporations and other Committees in the State is over.
According to sources, the Government had earlier decided to complete the inclusion process of all new wards in JMC prior to Municipal Corporation elections but with the objections raised by the Sarpanchs and Panchs of respective areas before the Deputy Commissioner Jammu it will issue the notification for the same after the election process to Municipal bodies is over.
The Sarpanchs of the respective areas raised objections to the proposal on the ground that the process should either have been completed prior to the holding of Panchayat elections or should be delayed till the present term of these Panchayats is over which have been constituted in April this year.
Sources said Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma after examining these objections has submitted a detailed report on the same to Housing and Urban Development Department which is yet to take a final decision on the issue.
Mr Verma when contacted said that his office has received objections from Sarpanchs of the respective areas who had opposed the proposal of bringing their areas in JMC and after examining these objections he had submitted a detailed report to Housing and Urban Development Department for the final decision.
However, sources said, that having apprehensions that the Sarpanchs may proceed to court and stall entire process of elections, the Government did not want to take any risk of issuing notification of including these areas in JMC till election process is over in the State. The Government did not want that elections to Municipal Corporations and local bodies which were over due should be further delayed, sources added.
They said the Housing and Urban Development Department has not ruled out inclusion of these areas in JMC but the decision may be taken after the election process to Municipal bodies in the State is over so that no hurdles are created in smooth poll process to municipal corporation.
When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand who also holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development Department, said that Government is committed to inclusion of new areas falling in outskirts of the city in JMC but in view of the objections received from some Sarpanchs his Ministry is holding a meeting with other political parties to discuss the issue thread bare and take a final decision.
He said the meeting with all political parties will be held soon to find out the modalities for inclusion of the new areas in JMC especially in view of the objections raised by Sarpanchs.
However, Kuldeep Khajuria president, Sarpanch Association while justifying the objections raised by Sarpanchs said that Government should have notified these areas prior to Panchayat elections and now when the Panchayats have been constituted in these areas it will not be feasible to disband them and include these localities in JMC.
He said the Government should wait till the present term of the Panchayats is over and later it can bring these areas under the jurisdiction of JMC.
It may be recalled that Government earlier had issued draft notification for inclusion of several parts of Jammu in JMC.
According to the draft of the notification, several parts of Deeli, Bhour and Gadi Garh under Digiana Niabat, parts of Rangoora, Dhawara and Majeen under Sidhra Niabat, parts of Chak Rattnoo, Chak Challoo, Kailoo Chak, Sunjwan and Chowadhi under Bahu Niabat, parts of Dharmal, Muthi, Rakna-Nagbani, Akalpur, Sangrampur, Chak Patyal, Gangwall, Thekri Khanie, Panyall, Patoli Brahmana, Machalliya, Shazadpur Bubba Ganiya, Chak Durgoo, Thathar, Barnai, Gajsal Pura and Gurha Brahmana under Muthi Niabat were to be included in the JMC.
Similarly, areas of Chak Pouni Wand Waziran, Chak Pouni Wand Brahmana, Sehora, Chak Gulami, Trilokpur, Kharian and Chak Sardar Atta Singh under Gole Niabat will also be brought within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation. Even the Khasra Nos of these areas have been mentioned in the draft to avoid any confusion.
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