Hiccups continue to create impediments

13/04/2018

Owing to administrative hiccups and slackness in removal of bottlenecks, six Housing Colonies which were planned several years back to meet housing needs of different sections of society are nowhere in sight. Due to this, the J&K Housing Board has failed to perform its primary task assigned at the time of its establishment. The Housing Board was established under the provisions of J&K Housing Board Act, 1976 and it was entrusted with the task of providing affordable shelter to all. The Board is supposed to develop Housing Colonies in urban as well as in rural areas of the State and construct flats under self-financing schemes.
Keeping this mandate in mind, the J&K Housing Board with the due permission from the Government planned to set-up new Housing Colonies at six places in the State. However, none of the Housing Colony is nowhere in sight despite lapse of several years due to administrative hiccups and slackness in removal of bottlenecks. These six Housing Colonies were planned to be set-up at Thathar in Jammu, Battal Ballian in Udhampur, Meen Charkan in Samba, village Mujgund in Srinagar, Ranbirgarh in Srinagar and village Tullibal in Sopore.
As far as Housing Colony proposed to be set-up over 495 kanals of land at Thathar is concerned, the case for transfer of State land was forwarded by the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) J&K to the Administrative Department vide Letter No.FC-LS/Misc/205/2017 dated November 24, 2017. But till date no further decision has been taken as a result of no steps could be initiated by the J&K Housing Board towards setting up of Housing Colony. Similarly, verification of objections under Section 5 and 5A of the Land Acquisition Act is still under process in respect of Housing Colony proposed to be set-up at Battal Ballian in Udhampur on over 448 kanals of land, sources informed. About proposed Housing Colony at Meen Charkan in Samba. As far as development of Housing Colony at village Mujgund in Srinagar district is concerned, sources said that the case for declaration under Section 6, 7 and 17 of the Land Acquisition Act was sent to the concerned authorities by Housing Board vide Letter No. HB/CLA/J/5607-08 dated January 19, 2018. No time-frame can be specified for start of work on development of Housing Colony at Ranbirgarh in Srinagar as case for disposal of objections under Section 5 and 5A of the Land Acquisition Act was sent to the Government by the Housing Board vide Letter No.HB/CLA/J/661-62 dated January 15, 2018 and since then no major development has taken place, sources informed. Moreover, there is no substantial progress on identification of suitable land in all the District Headquarters for development of planned Housing Colonies to provide affordable shelter to the people, sources said.

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