No proprietary rights for additional 10-ft ‘encroached land’ in Gandhi Nagar, Bahu assembly segments
Arteev Sharma
Jammu, April 11: Amid ongoing speculation and growing demands from residents and local representatives, the ruling National Conference government has firmly stated that it has no plans to regularize unauthorized colonies falling under the jurisdiction of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), thereby dashing the hopes of thousands of residents living in these areas for decades.
Responding to a query over the issue during the recently concluded Assembly Session, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah denied the possibility of granting legal status to colonies such as New Plots, Qasim Nagar, Shiv Mohalla, Vikram Chowk, and Rajeev Colony.
“There is no proposal under consideration for the regularization of unauthorized colonies at present,” Omar said while effectively ending ongoing public discourse and social media speculation about the policy being framed to regularize areas like Sunjwan, Bathindi, and Bajalta.
Furthermore, the government clarified that it has no immediate plans to grant proprietary rights to residents occupying an additional 10 feet of land—being used for more than six decades—as green patches or otherwise falling in Gandhi Nagar and Bahu assembly segments. The statement has come amid repeated appeals from local representatives for the regularization of these settlements.
As per official data, Jammu City and its outskirts comprise 31 authorized and 21 unauthorized colonies under the JDA’s jurisdiction. In 2018, the PDP-BJP government revealed that it proposed the regularisation of the 21 unauthorised colonies but the High Court stayed the process on December 17, 2014. Moreover, no colony had been regularised during the last ten years.
The authorized colonies of J&K Housing Board include Gandhi Nagar Jammu, Shastri Nagar Jammu, Channi Himmat Jammu, Patoli (Lakar Mandi) Janipur Jammu and Channi Rama Jammu. Besides, there is only one un-authorized colony in J&K Housing Board i.e. Channi Rama Jammu (Khasra No. 331 & 332)
According to Jammu Master Plan 2032, the JDA has vast stretches of land especially along the water bodies and hill slopes which is Nazool/State land. This land within the territorial jurisdiction of revised Master Plan has to be identified, demarcated, and handed over to JDA for its planned development.
“Not only this, a significant portion of the land has been left encroached or unauthorizedly developed by the encroachers leading to colossal fiscal loss besides adding the burden of providing services and amenities in such areas”, it said.
It further stated, “The resettlement colonies viz Rajeev Nagar, Qasim Nagar, Kabir Colony, BC Road near Model Academy, Dhounthly (Lower Circle Road), Guraha Bakhsi Nagar, Bawe Basti, Gole Panjpeer, Qasim Nagar (Bahu Fort), Sheikh Nagar (Bahu Fort), Kalka Colony (Bahu Fort), Muthi Bridge, Pata Palora and others are proposed to be improved by way of providing adequate infrastructure”.
It added, “The unauthorized and illegal colonies existing on government/JDA land are also proposed to be transferred after recovering―just cost of land through proper consultative process. In similar manner urban fringe settlements notified as part of local area Jammu LPA2032 are also envisaged to be improved by way of upgrading the amenities, utilities and service”.
However, regularization should be preceded by a comprehensive Urban Environment Improvement Plan (UEIP) which shall provide for basic amenities and facilities for such areas, it said, adding “The UEIP of each area shall act as Zonal Plan or Neighbourhood Plan depending on its size and scale of development notwithstanding contrary to the provisions of this Master Plan”.
The JDA as a custodian of this Master Plan shall take Revenue Department, Flood Control and Irrigation Department, roads and Building Department and concerned Urban Local Bodies on board and work in tandem to ensure total retrieval of land, it said.
