J&K’s transformation must be visible on ground: LG

He made these remarks while chairing a review meeting of the Housing and Urban Development Department here at the Civil Secretariat.

“The transformation of J&K must be visible on the ground and not just confined to the official plan’s file," said the Lt Governor.

The government machinery must adopt a pragmatic approach to deliver necessary projects without any further delay and fulfil the vision of making Jammu & Srinagar Smart Cities, he observed.

While reviewing the ‘Flagship Schemes & Key Initiatives in the Urban sector, the Lt Governor directed for initiating transformative projects in both Jammu and Srinagar.

Underlining the importance of incorporating drainage and sewerage systems during the planning process of developing urban areas, the Lt Governor directed the officials to integrate the same in the master plans to change the landscapes of the cities.

The Lt Governor asked the officials to rope in the best professional experts in their respective fields and make them a part of the urban development planning process.

The Lt Governor advised the H&UD department to identify and engage graduates from IIT Jammu, IIM  Jammu, NIT Srinagar, and other national institutes having relevant work experience, under the Lieutenant Governor's ‘Sustainable Development Fellowship’ for making the delivery structure of the department more efficient and robust.

He stressed taking the ecology factor into consideration, besides active participation of the public &  elected representatives of Urban Local Bodies in the development process.

Solid waste management is another key component we must be focusing on. A comparative study should be done to develop a more sustainable model of waste management. Ensure strict enforcement of Plastic waste management, besides no blockage of natural drainage for clean urban areas, he told the officers.

He also passed strict directions for the completion of projects within timelines while maintaining standards of construction for ensuring long durability. The tendering process must be completed within fixed timeframes. Put in place a robust Mechanism for capacity building and audit of the manpower, he added.

Directions were also passed for audit of community toilets for ensuring their proper usage and maintenance.

The Lt Governor further asked the concerned officials to put special focus on Devolution of greater financial powers to JMC/ULBs; Protection of Livelihood of Street vendors; Affordable Housing, Slum  Redevelopment & Rehabilitation and Township Policy and Solid Waste Management & Plastic Waste  Management Action Plans.

Terming development of the parks with the public-private partnership as a good initiative by the JMC, the Lt Governor stated that the good practice must be replicated by other agencies as well in the other cities for a better outcome.

As a part of the interventions made by the government to strengthen the governance framework and make it more transparent, the Lt Governor e-inaugurated and laid the e-foundation for multiple projects of Housing and Urban Development.

The Lt Governor launched the Online Building Permission system aiming at simplifying the building permission process within defined timelines of 21 days to facilitate the people. With the system being made online, now the applicant can track the application status, get NOC, make fee-payment through online mode and receive real-time alerts.

The occasion also marked the launch of the Enforcement App by JMC for ensuring factual reporting about unauthorized constructions and their status by enforcement inspectors, besides the JK LED Street Light Complaint App to bring ease of use, efficiency and transparency in the complaint resolution process.

Other important projects for which the e-foundation was laid today were the Modernization of Narwal Fruit  / Vegetable Mandi costing Rs 9.86 cr and the Road improvement project from Dogra Chowk to KC Chowk  Jammu at a cost of Rs 9.23 cr.

Meanwhile, the Lt Governor e-inaugurated various works and schemes and included Drainage Scheme and Dewatering station at Lal Chowk, Srinagar at Rs 9.96 cr; Stormwater drainage network at Malbagh, Srinagar costing Rs 6.15 cr; Dewatering station at Nund Reshi Colony Bemina, Srinagar worth Rs 3.23 cr, besides laying the e-foundation for Drainage Scheme at Khomaini Chowk, Bemina under AMRUT costing  Rs 11.57 cr and Drainage Scheme at Iqbal Colony, HMT, Srinagar under AMRUT, at Rs 3.03 cr.

Avny Lavasa, Commissioner JMC and Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan, Commissioner, SMC gave an overview of the working of their respective Municipal Corporations.