Advisor Sharma calls for viable, affordable housing policy

Several deputations seek redressal of their grievances

JAMMU, MARCH 7: Advisor to Governor, KK Sharma today directed the officers of Housing and Urban Development Department to come up with a comprehensive policy to meet the housing and other basic needs of the large chunk of population living in the urban areas of the State.

The Advisor was addressing officers during a review meeting to discuss new schemes of housing proposed by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board.

The Advisor asked the Housing Board and JDA to synergize their activities in order to take necessary steps for planning housing colonies and other related amenities to the people within the shortest possible time-frame. “Special 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’, he maintained.

The Advisor, while reviewing the proposed new housing scheme of the Housing Board, directed for undertaking a comprehensive exercise for identifying the areas which would be having all the requisite parameters. He also directed for undertaking proper consultancy which would in turn ensure that it comes up with all the requisite amenities and also with the new interventions and innovations in the housing sector.

The Advisor also directed for active involvement of the Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority (JMRDA), in these types of endeavors to make them broad based and in tune with the relevant laws and modern housing needs.

Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Sushma Chouhan, Additional CEO Metropolitan Region Development Authorities (MRDA), Jammu, Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director JK Housing Board, R Katoch, Vice Chairman Jammu Development Autority, Vikas Sharma, Chief Town Planner, Jammu, Iftiqar Hakeem and other senior officers were present.

Earlier, the Advisor met several deputations led by former legislators.

Deputation from Ramnagar led by RS Pathania raised several issues related to their area and also about the issue of regularizing daily rated workers working in the PHE department.

Chief Engineer, PHE, Director General (Finance), Special Secretary PHE and other senior officers were present.

The Advisor while interacting with the deputationists assured them redressal of their genuine demands and maintained that the government has already worked out a policy for regularizing the services of these types of workers.

Former legislator, Chowdary Qamar Hussain also met the Advisor and sought the augmentation of the electric infra and related facilities in his area.

The Advisor assured for redressing the issue of the area.