Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today directed the officers of Housing and Urban Development Department to ensure holistic development of Jammu city replete with all the basic facilities and modern amenities so that it comes up as one of the model cities of the country.“The Deputy Chief Minister said while speaking at the 79th meeting of the Board of Directors of Jammu Development Authority and 6th Governing Body Meeting of the State Urban Development agency (SUDA) here today.Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development Ms Asiea Naqash was also present at these meetings. The Deputy Chief Minister asked the Vice Chairman JDA to fast pace the development of prestigious projects like Tawi Ravi Front Project and Maharaja Hari Singh Memorial Park so that these are completed the stipulated time-frame. He said the officers working on these projects should hold regular meetings in order to ensure that these are completed within the shortest possible time.He also directed for early construction of Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUM) under NULM maintaining that it would go a long way in addressing the housing needs of urban homeless. He also called for fast pacing development of parks and pathways in various colonies of JDA, construction of flats being undertaken by the authority and also early completion of modernization/development of general bus stand cum multi level car parking cum commercial complex maintaining that adequate rehabilitation measures should also be undertaken for the affected shopkeepers so that their means of livelihood do not get disturbed.
While asking the officers to come up with a holistic policy to meet the housing and other basic needs of the large chunk of population living in the urban areas of the State, the deputy Chief Minister asked the JDA to synergize its activities in order to take necessary steps for providing housing colonies and other related amenities to the people within the shortest possible time-frame. “Emphasis should be laid to come up with a viable housing policy with perspective planning to deal with the burgeoning population and their housing needs, besides also ensuring that the requisite parameters with regard to the permissions are also adhered to,” he maintained. He asked the officers to strictly deal with those trying to deviate from the already set patterns and also take strict action against the encroachers. The Deputy CM directed officers to ensure proper development of parks and other related facilities in the housing colonies already set up by the Board and also explore the possibility of including private partners in these ventures. While chairing the governing body meeting of the SUDA, the Deputy Chief Minister directed officers to ensure the speedy implementation of the various programmes being implemented by the agency. He said that these have an immense potential of ensuring the job creation and also providing the necessary skill trainings to the youth of the state. Deputy Chief Minister also directed for fast pacing the work on the projects being constructed under Shelter for Urban Homeless (SUH) maintain that these would ensure the housing facilities to the urban poor of the state. He said that the schemes being implemented by the agency should also be monitored at regular basis, so that the impact of these at ground level is got besides also obtaining the necessary feedback.Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Hridesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr Mandeep Bhandari, VC JDA, and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.