*Authorities to play key role in transfer of land also
Guidelines issued for metropolitan areas of Jammu, Srinagar
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 28: With Government issuing guidelines for the planned development of metropolitan areas of Jammu and Srinagar, developmental activity involving a quantum of land more than 10 kanals will require prior written permission of the respective Metropolitan Region Development Authorities (MRDAs), which will also play crucial role in transfer of any land to any authority, entity or a person for any activity.
The Government had enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act in the year 2018 to provide for an overarching framework to ensure coordinated, orderly and rapid development of the two Metropolitan areas.
As per the provisions of this Act, Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority were created and accordingly their jurisdiction was notified vide SRO-456 dated July 17, 2019.
Towards achieving the objective of coordinated and orderly development, these Authorities have the responsibility for preparation of infrastructure development plans, mobility management plans and plans for sustainable management of urban environment. Moreover, these Authorities have the power and responsibility to examine the development plans of other authorities, departments and agencies working in their respective areas to ensure that these don’t impede the coordinated and orderly development of the metropolitan areas.
Sub-Section 1 of Section 20 of the Act provides: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, except with the previous permission, no authority or person shall undertake any development within the Metropolitan region of the type as the Authority may from time to time specify by notification in the Government Gazette and which in the opinion of the Authority is likely to adversely affect the overall development of the Metropolitan region”.
As per this provision of the Act, it is obligatory on the part of any authority or person both Government and private not to undertake any development of specified nature without the prior permission of the MRDAs within their areas.
Accordingly, the Housing and Urban Development Department has issued guidelines for strict compliance by all authorities, entities and persons.
“No developmental activity involving a quantum of land more than 10 kanals or which shall have a significant impact on the urban environment, traffic and mobility in their surroundings, shall be undertaken by any authority or person within these regions without the prior written permission of the respective Metropolitan Region Development Authorities”, read the guidelines issued by Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department.
As per the guidelines, before transferring any land to any authority, entity or a person for any activity within these regions, the competent authority shall ensure that the indenting department has included there in the prior written permission from the respective MRDAs.
“No permission for construction or any other developmental activity or for commencement of work on any project shall be granted by any authority including any municipal or local authority or project implementing agency without the prior written permission of the respective MRDAs”, the guidelines further said.
In order to ensure expeditious disposal of these cases, the cases for the permission of the MRDAs will be submitted along with a self-contained note giving all the details of the project, the permitted land use in the area per extant norms endorsed by the respective development authority or the Chief Town Planner, the details of how the project shall conduce to the coordinated and orderly development of the region, the justification for quantum of land requisitioned keeping in view the relevant norms and considerations of efficiency of land use and any other information that may be required to enable the MRDAs to decide on the request without further recourse.
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