For the first time, the Jammu & Kashmir government has ordered that developmental activities involving more than 10 kanals of land in Srinagar and Jammu metropolitan areas would require permission of the metropolitan region development authorities, which came into existence in 2018.

The Housing & Urban Development Department has ordered that municipal bodies or project implementing agencies shall not grant any permission for construction or for commencement of work on any projecti nvolving more than 10 kanals of land, without the prior written permission ofthe respective MRDA.

“No development activity involving a quantum of land more than 10 kanals, are which shall have a significant impact on the urban environment, traffic and mobility in their surroundings shall be undertaken by any authority or person within these regions without the prior written permission of the respective metropolitan region development authority(MRDA),”reads the order issued by Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary, Housing &Urban Development Department (HUDD).

Gupta said the move is intended to regulate development inmetropolitan regions of Srinagar and Jammu. “We want to curb haphazard development in these regions,” he said.

The directive has been issued more than one year after government established metropolitan authorities for panned and rapid development of Srinagar and Jammu.

The government has also directed that the competent authority shall ensure that indenting department shall have prior written permission from the respective MRDA before transferring any land to any authority, or a person for any activity within these regions.

The authorities came into existence after Governor Satya Pal Malik-led administration enacted the Jammu and Kashmir metropolitan region development Authorities Act-2018 when the erstwhile state was under Governor’s rule.

Subsequently, the government on July 3, 2019 notified jurisdiction of these authorities.

As per the plan approved by the State Administrative Council, the Srinagar Metropolitan Region will cover the areas of districts ofSrinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian, covering an area of 2494 sq.kms.

Similarly, the Jammu Metropolitan region will cover the areas of districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur , covering anarea 2216.58 sq.kms.

Under the metropolitan law, the government is empowered to regulate development in these regions.