Last Updated on September 14, 2021 at 6:59 pm
For ensuring the development of the holy town, the Katra Development Authority initiated more than three decades back has been showing no seriousness. Many important aspects have been ignored by the Housing and Urban Development Department.
As per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970, the Government Vide SRO 579 dated September 12, 1986 constituted the Katra Development Authority for holistic development of the holy town and its surroundings.
Katra Development Authority includes Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Principal Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Secretary Tourism Department, Additional CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, District Development Commissioner Reasi, Chief Town Planner Jammu and President of Municipal Committee Katra.
Authority has not conducted any meeting since March 2020. Housing and Urban Development Department has failed to take any step for removal of discrepancies from the Jammu Master Plan. For making the Master Plan to implement efficiently it is crucial to frame Zonal Plans but no attention is paid towards it.
People have reached Housing and Urban Development Department for revision of Master Plan as document has reflected majority of the area as ‘Green Zone’. Because of this people are facing problems in getting No Objection Certificate for developmental works. But people have remained unheard.
It has been noticed that Shrine Board and Municipal Committee Katra are doing some works but for the future development of the town and implementation of Master Plan, the Katra Development Authority as such its importance cannot be undermined.
