They said that Jammu, Katra, Srinagar and Anantnag are the cities of state taken under union government’s project, but none of these fulfill all the conditions.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling to seek relaxation in the norms for the implementation of Smart City projects sanctioned by the Centre for four cities of the state.
“The absence of elected Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and legal hitches in the backdrop of special status of JK are main hurdles in the implementation of the projects in the state,” sources said, adding that to overcome these, the government is likely to seek relaxation in the norms.
They said that Jammu, Katra, Srinagar and Anantnag are the cities of state taken under union government’s project, but none of these fulfill all the conditions.
Among others, the main conditions required to get the central assistance of Rs 100 crore per annum under the programme are that the city should have at least 10 lakh population, local government (municipalities) and rational taxation system (property tax) in place, sources informed. “Smart cities should have a Master Plan and provision of allowing foreign or Indian companies to acquire land for commercial purposes.”
They added that only Jammu city has a Master Plan while Srinagar’s Master Plan is being formulated and Master Plans of other two cities are in initial stage of formulation.
Sources added that implementation of Property Tax and allowing foreign or Indian companies to acquire land could be the major problem for PDP-BJP coalition government.
They added that the work on Smart Cities would start only after all these issues are settled.
A senior official told that state government would take up the issue with Union Government and seek relaxation of norms.
“Being a special status state, J&K government expects some relaxation of norms for full utilization of the scheme,” he said.
“To draw the modalities and discuss the hitches in the implementation of the projects, a meeting is likely to be held after opening of Durbar offices in Srinagar,” he said.
