Amit Katoch
JAMMU, Oct 13: Jammu Development Authority has said that it will implement the High Court orders on retrieving its land but said the exact figures of land can’t be divulged as mapping has to be done.
“We will fully implement the orders of the High Court , though it’s a challenging task. We have started the mapping of Tawi land and the process for the same will be done accordingly. Recently a meeting was convened by the Divisional Commissioner to implement the High Court order for removing encroachments from the Tawi. Though, how much land of the JDA is encroached and what are the exact figures can’t be stated right now as the land has to be identified yet and mapped too,” Vice-Chairman, JDA R K Shavan told the Excelsior News, in an interview.
The HC has come down heavily on the JDA for not retrieving 20 lakh kanal land encroached upon as per the Public Interest Litigation filed in the court.
The JDA Vice-Chairman though said 2,000 kanals land has been retrieved by the agency and the process is going on.
The JDA VC, who is seemingly pro-active against encroachment, has again warned of tough action against the encroachers and illegal settlements.
“Unauthorised settlements and construction will not be acceptable. We have launched an active drive in various areas of the city. The offenders, who so ever be, will not be spared, ” he said.
Recently, there has been criticism in some quarters and also suggested in the media reports, about lack of coordination between the agencies, especially JDA and the police, to work in tandem against encroachers.
The VC JDA, though, said it’s not the case. “We have been getting all the necessary cooperation from the police. Rather, it’s quite pro-active and timely too. And, it’s visible during our recent drives.”
The JDA is an important nodal agency for the development and beautification of the city especially when Jammu has been selected as a smart city. The JDA is a largest stake holder and thus has many important projects to handle and execute.
The VC said some of the important projects the agency is handling is creation of parking space and Maharaja Hari Singh park. He said developing parking slots is an important components of the smart city and for that purpose he citied the work is going on in Rs 213 crore multi-tier parking at Bus Stand and also the recent completion of automatic multi-tier parking at City Chowk.
“We also intend to create parking space at Bahu Plaza and other places,” said the VC.
The VC said that all the formalities and necessary detailed project report for the Tawi River Front on the lines of the Sabarmati River Front has been completed and the work on it will start soon. It’s one of the mega projects.
Another important project which JDA intends to start is the Jammu Habitat Centre. It is likely to be built on the lines of India Habitat Centre in the New Delhi, which houses many facilities. The VC said the consultants have been appointed and they are in a process of finalization of designs and other formalities.
He said that JDA is also in the process of finalizing of zonal plannings which will delineate and define the kind of business or other activity to be carried out in specific zone.
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