J-K Legislative Panel suggests Master Plans for Jammu,Srinagar

To check unauthorised constructions, a Legislative Panel in Jammu and Kashmir has suggested that Master Plans be prepared for the twin capitals of the state by taking into consideration the requirement of the next 20 to 30 years.
"We have to keep the requirements of coming 20 to 30 years into consideration while formulating Master Plans," a House Committee of the Legislative Council said after a meeting here yesterday.
The Committee, headed by National Conference MLC Devender Singh Rana, had met to discuss the issues regarding conversion of residential land for commercial purposes in violation of the Master plans in Srinagar and Jammu.

The meeting discussed in threadbare various facets of urban development with special emphasis on the Master Plans for Srinagar and Jammu, an official spokesman said.
He said the Committee emphasised the need for strict implementation of the Master Plan norms against conversion of residential areas for commercial activities in the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
The committee called for stern action against the violators of the Master Plans for the twin capital cities.

It also observed that the menace of converting housing units into commercial spaces by violating building by-laws has unfortunately received momentum over the years, thus posing threat to urban living, the spokesman said.

"The menace is to be checked if we want futuristic development of the two cities which have strategic importance in view of the high influx of tourists," the committee members observed.
They appealed to law enforcing agencies to draw a pragmatic strategy to deal with the offenders.
"The responsibility is to be fixed for these violations. While there is no room for blame game or digging out the skeletons, there is need for creating some sort of deterrence to discourage this tendency, the committee maintained," they added.
Referring to the formulation of master plans for the twin cities, the Committee called for futuristic planning, keeping in view the faster growth and expansion of the cities.

The Master Plans, the committee felt, should have components earmarked for the shopping complexes, utility services, hotels, cafeteria, parking slots and recreation spots.
The Committee also dwelt on the issue of unauthorised colonies in the two cities and sought information on the mechanism being adopted to regularise these in order to provide civic amenities and creating various facilities for the residents.
The members expressed concern over unauthorised structures coming up in the cities and violations of building plans.