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| Implementation of Town Planning Act still a distant dream in JK | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 6: With congestion taking a toll on twin capitals, the implementation of the Town Planning Act is still a distant dream in Jammu and Srinagar.
An official of the Housing and Urban Development Department said there was no concept of urban planning and development in the state.
"People who are at the helm of affairs have no concept of urban development, which is the main reason for chaos on the streets of Srinagar and Jammu city," he said.
While emphasizing for implementation of Town Planning Act, where it is mandatory that foot paths should be secured from the encroachments, he said, "there is lack of understanding between various other departments for making streets free from encroachments".
For beautification of cities, various states across the country have regularized the street vendors by providing them licence for tackling traffic problems and beautification of cities. Regularization of street vendors also comes under the Town Planning Act. But, in Jammu and Kashmir, no such efforts have been made by the authorities and have failed to authorise street vendors for the convenience of common people.
For unattractive look of the Srinagar and Jammu city, experts believe, lack of planning, like haphazard settlement of vendors, improper parking system have been the main reasons and lead to mess and chaos here.
They said, there needs to have provisions by including street vendors in the state governments plans.
Observers believe the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Jammu Municipal Corporation should follow the policies of other states, like Delhi, where the Municipal Corporation Delhi has regularized the street vendors and gave them status of legality. Since then, there has been reportedly less instance of large sums going into bribes, nor the fear of eviction among vendors. They have also designed their markets with appealing kiosks.
"The municipal corporations in other states have provided street vendors licence and provide them particular spots to run their business, but nothing such has been introduced here. If implemented, it will definitely make Srinagar and Jammu city more beautiful and would tackle the traffic congestion problem," said, Mohammad Ashraf, a college lecturer.
"It would also make easy availability of goods to public."
He claimed there is no planning where the street vendors should be allowed to run their business.
"I came across here that vendors are making encroachments and creating traffic congestion, while as authorities have been watching it as mute spectators," Ashraf said, who has worked in various states for almost a decade.
While a senior official said that SMC and JMC was taking measures and at various places, vendors have been rehabilitated from there to give safe passage to the pedestrian movement.
"If we regularize the street vendors, then we have to make various arrangements for particular spots where these vendors will run their business. But, we don't have much land available to accommodate all the vendors," he added. |
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