JDA to construct 1000 flats

Dismantling of structures raised for migrants almost complete JDA to construct 1000 flats at Muthi, Nagrota

Shifting its focus on the vertical expansion, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has chalked out a plan to construct 1000 flats for high and low income group people at Muthi and Nagrota, where over 300 kanals of land has become available due to the shifting of Kashmir Pandit migrant families to Jagti township.

Official sources said that demolition of structures, which were raised at Muthi and Nagrota to provide shelter to the Kashmiri Pandit migrants following onset of militancy in the Kashmir valley and rendered un-useful due to shifting of KPs to Jagti, is progressing well and will be completed by month end.

With the razing of the structures, a total of 312 kanals of land-233 kanals at Nagrota and 42 and 37 kanals respectively at two different locations in Muthi area, would become available for the JDA, they said.

Since as per the records, land at both the places could only be utilized for real estate residential purposes, the senior officers of JDA and town planners thoroughly deliberated upon plots as well as flats options and finally it was decided to shift focus on the vertical expansion in order to meet the housing requirement of large number of people.

Accordingly, a plan was chalked out for construction of multi-storied flats at both the places for high income as well as low income groups, sources informed while disclosing that the plan would be placed before the Board of Directors meeting of the JDA slated to be held shortly for formal approval.

When contacted, Vice-Chairman of JDA, Vinod Sharma confirmed that a plan has been mooted for construction of around 1000 flats at Muthi and Nagrota, adding "keeping in view the limited land available with JDA in the Jammu city and adjoining areas, vertical expansion is the only option to meet the housing needs of the people".

At present, the Board of Directors meeting of JDA in which the plan would be formally given nod, is scheduled to be held on July 11 but it has to be postponed by few days keeping in view the latest intimation about the District Development Board meeting of Jammu being taken by Chief Minister on July 12, he said.

To a question, he said that flats would be constructed by adopting self-financing option as is being followed by the private builders, who are coming up with multi-storied flats in different parts of Jammu.

"We don't have sufficient funds to construct such a large number of flats as such we will invite applications from those interested in getting flats at these places, take money from them in installments and utilize the same in the construction", the Vice-Chairman said while disclosing that it would be after six-seven years that JDA would be constructing flats.