Advisor (S) reviews performance of H&UDD

Jammu: Advisor to Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma Thursday reviewed the working of Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) here at a high-level meeting.
The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner, Housing & Urban Development Department(H&UDD), KB Aggarwal, Commissioner JMC, Arvind Kotwal, VC JDA, PS Rathore, Secretary HUDD, Anil Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, J&K Housing Board, R K Katoch, Chief Town Planner, Jammu, Iftikhar Hakim, Collector, AvleenKour, Technical Officer, Aftab Pandit besides Senior Town Planner, JMC and other officers.
While reviewing the working of the Housing Board and future working plans of H&UDD, the Advisor was informed that work on 2 residential colonies, to be developed by H&UDD, will initiate soon for which land has been identified. It was further informed that there are around 40 unsold plots of Housing Department in Kathua area.
A detailed briefing was given on maintenance of the residential colonies developed by Housing Department, recovery of rent, collection of revenues, process of allotment of plots and alike.
The Advisor asked the JMC, JDA and H&UDD to consider the transfer of maintenance and services of the colonies established by the said departments and examine the challenges thereby. He further asked the concerned departments to assess the revenue generation and feasibility of revenue sharing.
The meeting was informed that no area was demarcated for commercial purposes in residential colonies developed by government departments. It was further informed that no such scheme was under implementation in the state, however, some provision was incorporated under mixed land use.
The Advisor was briefed about the ordinance passed in the past related to the policy providing provision for the compounding feasibilities but lapsed later. He said the old effective policies that were lapsed shall be considered for renewal.
The Advisor instructed the concerned departments to bring more transparency in the allotment of plots and ensure that no unauthorized constructions shall take place.