Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 14: Lethargic approach of the concerned departments is delaying progress on proposed Master Plan for Greater Udhampur, which has moved only three steps forward for the last about two years.
There is no progress on the move except submission of concept Draft Plan to the Department of Housing and Urban in February last year, issuance of an SRO constituting Udhampur Development Authority in July 2013 and inviting objections by the stakeholders in February last, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Since the invited objections and suggestions need to be scrutinized by a Technical Board of representatives from different agencies like PWD, Town Planning, District Administration etc before finalization of the draft plan for getting Cabinet nod, the entire exercise is unlikely to get completed soon, sources explained.
Pertinent to mention here that after completion of basic survey and ground work on Udhampur Master Plan, Concept Draft Plan was submitted to the State Government in February last year for further action. The concept report, prepared by M/s Tech Mech International Private Limited- an Ahmedabad based private consultancy, was submitted to Town Planning Organization in Housing and Urban Development Department for further action of the Government.
However, since submission of the Concept Report, the Department took around five months for initiating further step by constituting Udhampur Development Authority vide SRO 317 dated July 3, 2013, according to which 70 villages of Udhampur tehsil from the town to Rehmbal in North and Ritti-Roun Domail in South besides Jakhani, Omala, Kawa and Cherri Sallayan rural areas come under its jurisdiction.
Again there was no further action for next five months till January this year when objections and suggestions were invited from the general public and other stake holders.
And now even after lapse of more than three months, the invited objections and suggestions are awaiting scrutiny by a Technical Board, which is yet to be constituted by the Government, sources said.
The Technical Board, comprising representatives of PWD (R&B), Town Planning Department, Director Local Bodies, Municipal Committee and District administration etc, will scrutinize the objections and suggestions for inclusion of the same in final draft for approval by Urban Development Department and then State Cabinet, sources explained.
When contacted, Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department, Satish Nehru said that the Board could not be constituted due to imposition of Model Code of Conduct in wake of Parliament elections. Soon after the Model Code is lifted, the Technical Board will be constituted for scrutinizing the objections, he added.
The proposed Master Plan after coming into existence, would fix the land use for different purposes in the notified area. It visualizes the future planning for Udhampur keeping in view projected population of the notified area for the next 30 years. Its main features include a Housing Colony, Mini Secretariat, Transport terminals, Railway line, Gas pipeline, solid waste management site, additional inhabitation areas near close vicinity of the town and notified jurisdiction etc.
Concept report of the proposed Master Plan has been prepared after basic survey conducted by various departments like PWD, PHE, PDD, Health, Education, Railways, Industries, Forest, Municipal Council, Revenue Department etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel