The Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora has stressed for envisaging a rational and futuristic growth plan for Katra town for sustainable development and infrastructural expansion. “The plan must cater to the ever increasing influx of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims in the town”, he said.The Minister was speaking at an officer’s meet held to review the draft master plan for Katra Town today. Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Satish Nehru, Chief Executive Officer Dr Mandeep K.Bhandari ,Deputy Commissioner Reasi Shahid Iqbal Choudhary ,Director Local Bodies Jammu Arun Kumar ,Chief Executive Officer KDA Rajinder Singh ,Chief Town Planner, Jammu, Joginder Singh were present in the meeting.
The Minister said that it is vital that a comprehensive plan is prepared in consultation with the concerned line departments and detailed field analysis is done so that the plan incorporates and contemplates the future growth pattern and strives at maintaining the ecology. He stressed on strict adherence to the land use and guidelines for the purpose to enhance local urban infrastructure.He also stressed on the concerned authorities to take concrete measures for scientific solid waste management in the town to check pollution and protect the environment. Jora also reviewed the draft master plan for Ransoo and stressed that Shiv Khori is fast emerging as an important destination of pilgrim importance, as such the master plan should be rationally designed to provide for the infrastructural and logistic needs for extending the facilities to tourists. Later the Minister also conducted surprise inspection of the office of Jammu Development Authority and reviewed functioning of the various units of the organisation. He was accompanied by the Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Satish Nehru.He called for providing online facilities and services to the consumers besides taking concrete steps to remove undue delays in granting building permissions and other services.