Srinagar: The long and disconcerting wait of months for a building permission is gone – now one can apply for the permission on-line and get a go-ahead within 21 days!
This is one of the many initiatives which are set to transform the urban living through technological innovations required for the future, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said Tuesday while reviewing the functioning of the Housing and Urban Development Department here at Civil Secretariat.
“The transformation of J&K must be visible on the ground and not just confined to official plans’ file,” he said.
According to an official press release, the LG said the government machinery must adopt a pragmatic approach to deliver necessary projects without any delays and fulfill the vision of making Jammu and Srinagar ‘Smart Cities’.
While reviewing the flagship schemes and key initiatives in the urban sector, the LG 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 LG directed the officials to integrate the same in the Master plans to change the landscapes of the cities.
The LG also asked the officials to rope in best professional experts in their respective fields and make them a part of the urban development planning process.
He advised the H&UDD to identify and engage graduates from IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu, NIT Srinagar, and other national institutes having relevant work experience, under Lieutenant Governor’s Sustainable Development Fellowship for making the delivery structure of the department more efficient and robust.
He further stressed on taking ecology factor into consideration, besides active participation of the public and 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,” the LG 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 LG 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 and plastic waste management action plans.
Terming development of the parks with public-private partnership as a good initiative by the JMC, the LG 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 making it more transparent, the LG e-inaugurated and laid e-foundation for multiple projects.
He 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 press release said.
The occasion also marked the launch of 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 Modernization of Narwal Fruit/Vegetable Mandi costing Rs 9.86 cr and road improvement project from Dogra Chowk to KC Chowk Jammu at a cost of Rs 9.23 cr.
The LG also e-inaugurated various works and schemes including the drainage scheme and dewatering station at Lal Chowk, Srinagar at Rs 9.96 cr; storm-water 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.
