Rajesh Gupta
Jammu, Aug 04: Rajesh Gupta
Jammu, Aug 04: Development Act of 1970 clearly instructs for revision of Master plans after every 05 years or early as per the needs for the developments but said instructions are not being complied causing hinderances in new developments & speaks of working of top officers of the said department.
Master Plan of one of the best tourist spot of Jammu Province “Patnitop” was notified in the year 2000 & lot of more areas were added thereafter in the Patnitop Development Authority.
Tourism Dept did not bother to revise the Master Plan since lapse of 25 years in open violation of J&K Development Act of 1970, which caused hinderances in new developments?
Above all it is to mention here that PDA has spent Lakhs for framing faulty revised Master Plan & provenly can be verified as had even shown Petrol Pump Kud with wrong land use, which is existing since years,
Now, it is to mention here that Govt has tasked framing of said Master Plan to one Chief Town Planner, TPO, Jammu & can be verified from outcome till day despite lapse of months.
However, once upon a time, then Secretary, Tourism, constituted a high level committee headed by Director Tourism to submit report over revised Master Plan of Patni top Dev Authority in 15 days, but outcome awaited.
Once upon a time on 13th October 2023, Div Com Jammu conducted a meeting over the issue & meeting was attended by Director Tourism Jammu , VC JDA , Chief Town Planner, Jammu,, Additional Secretary, Tourism Department, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority, besides Director CEPT University and other concerned officers of Town Planning Organization.
The revision of existing Master Plan by CEPT University of Ahmedabad, and a draft was released for public review and feedback from locals, stakeholders others. However, it was noted that town planning organization had raised some objections, necessitating further discussion and resolution. & could not decided despite spending around 10 to 15 lakh or more, which seems to be wasted as not fruitful.
However, Divisional Commissioner directed the Town Planning Organization to submit optimum/specific observations within a period of 15 days. The CEO of PDA was also tasked with coordinating with town planning organization, Jammu and CEPT to address the same in Master Plan which is under revision but nobody could understood that whether that 15 days are over till today or not?
Divisional Commissioner stressed on the need for a time-bound notification of the final revised Master Plan. This step is crucial for the timely implementation of the plan on the ground, which is expected to alleviate challenges related to building permissions.
However, illegality from Draft Master Plan can openly viewed from the below snapshot that "Petrol Pump" at Kud which is existing since years has shown in water flowing category, which raised questions on the incompetence of the concerned officers needed to be acted upon, however, which has openly contravented by then CTP, TPO Jammu in a communication to then CEO, PDA Kud?
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