SAC approves JDA's territorial expansion

The State Administrative Council (SAC) today approved extension of the local area under the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) from 288 sq kms to 652 sq kms.
The SAC, which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra, extended JDA's territorial limits to include 103 new villages of Jammu and Samba districts, an official spokesman said.
The Council asked the JDA to prepare a revised master plan of this area as per provisions of the J&K Development Act.
Review of this master plan must be a continuous and dynamic exercise as per the legal provisions of the Act, so that it always triggers planned urbanization of the city, the spokesman said.

The SAC directed that experts from established national institutions be co-opted while finalizing the master plan, after following the statutory process of public consultation as provided in the Act.
It also directed that a proper 'land use change' policy be framed for bringing transparency in the conversion of land particularly within the master plan area in future, the spokesman said.
This new master plan will be prepared with a futuristic vision upto 2032.