Known for negligible transparency in work culture and wide spread corruption, the Jammu Development Authority a significant constituent of Housing and Urban Development Authority have finally got another Vice-Chairperson within a brief interval of three months. Honestly, the chaos prevailing in JDA can be gauged from the fact that in a span of 2 and half years, Mr. Magotra is the 6th officer to assume office of Vice-Chairman-JDA. Frequent transfer of crucial Director Land Management is all together another messy affairs in JDA which needs to be touched separately for the perusal of higher ups in the Secretariat.
The appointment of Mr. Pankaj Magotra on the hot seat is “cleared” following much “deliberation” in the corridors of power. For new VC JDA, the task ahead is herculean as the crucial enforcement wing entrusted with job of ensuring implementation of Jammu Master Plan-2032 in identified jurisdiction in letter and spirit is not only left orphaned for the past several months but also under scanner for allowing mushroomed construction of illegal commercial buildings in utter disrespect to circular No HUD/JMC/31/2020 dated 08/05/2020 issued by Mr. Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department. List of illegal gigantic buildings and commercial structures at Vijaypur, Bishnah, Baribrahmna, Birpur, Chowadhi, KotBhalwal, Nagrota, Jagti and Sidrah clearly speaks volume about the working of BOCA and Khilafwarzi officials in JDA. Reining large number of suspended Khilafwarzi officials who are habitually known for shielding wilful violators and the shoddy practice adopted by BOCA teams which consumes six months time in issuance of 7 (1) and 8 (1) notices to owner of illegal constructions seems next to impossible. More especially, when these errant employees of JDA affirmatively prefers to respond to the nod of private players rather than adhering to the circulars of their superiors. Continuance of handful of Patwaris in JDA in violation of rules and regulations at the behest of powerful private players and encroachment of JDA land with impunity at several places in Birpur,Chowadhi, Bajalta, Sidhara, Ragoora besides upcoming illegal colonies developed by influential players in JDA jurisdiction also considered as radical test of Mr. Magotra’s strategy and acumen to bring a highly disorganized JDA on right track up to the desired expectations of Chief Secretary-Mr. Arun Kumar Mehta for ending the sufferings of genuine citizens.
The new VC JDA twice remain posted as Commissioner in Jammu Municipal Corporation and fully aware about nexus and the modus operandi adopted by the Khilafwarzi officials and violators to ensure constructions of illegal structures in violation of JMC-2032. More, interestingly, when it’s being raised right in front of Commissioner owns residence with impunity. In JDA, there are no Councilors to exert pressure tactics but there are plenty of influential land grabbers and illegal colonizers which enjoy backing of powerful police officers and bureaucrats. There are many skeletons in cupboard of JDA and alike the JMC, the tradition of disappearance of official files pertaining to illegal buildings is also practiced religiously on quid pro basis between the corrupt officials and BOCA violators/ land thieves. The corruption has encroached dominantly the corridors of Vikas Bhawan and its remedy is too available in the office chamber of VC-JDA.
The ‘Automation of JDA’ project is available ‘Brahamastra’ to eliminate Qureshi factors which have plagued the transparency in JDA since its inception. This project was aimed at digitization of all files and records to make it a paperless organization so as to provide various online e- services like building permission, allotment of notified assets, registration, transfer, mortgage, possession of property, permission to sub let, renew, addition-deletion of name in lease deed, NOC, RTI, payments besides various backend online services for the internal working of JDA. The funds worth 3 crore was released in 2018 but since then this project confines to dark room in JDA under the alleged influence of powerful land grabbers lobby and corrupt officials. The new VC JDA Mr. Magotra was appointed sans political acknowledgment. Thus, it’s interesting to see whether he is able to carry weight of ‘Automation project’ and show it light of the day for the sake of Aam Admi.