Jammu Kashmir to Utilise Rs 1 Lakh Crore Urban Challenge Fund for Housing, Lakes Development | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday reviewed the progress of key housing and urban development initiatives, including the Urban Challenge Fund, the Auto Development Control Regulation (Auto DCR) system for building permissions, and ongoing conservation projects at Dal and Nigeen lakes.

The meeting, attended by senior officials from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Rural Development Department (RDD), Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), and the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), focused on optimising project execution and leveraging funding under the Urban Challenge Fund.

Chief Secretary Dulloo directed departments to target at least 1 percent of the Rs 1 lakh crore allocated by the Government of India under the scheme. He stressed careful project selection to ensure urban centres in the Union Territory are sustainable, resilient, and future-ready, in line with population growth and civic needs. He also advised supplementing projects with additional funding support from SASCI to ensure timely and uninterrupted execution.

The HUDD has been instructed to integrate the Auto DCR platform for building permissions with the RERA portal to ensure statutory compliance, while the RDD is preparing a similar online system for rural areas, with NIC support, following finalisation of building bye-laws.

Officials highlighted projects under the Urban Challenge Fund in Jammu and Kashmir, which include expansion of parking infrastructure, residential housing, sanitation initiatives, wastewater management, and other urban utility services aimed at improving city life. The Auto DCR system was praised for enabling automatic scrutiny of building plans, reducing processing times, enhancing transparency, and integrating online submission, tracking, and payment facilities.

LCMA Vice Chairman Manzoor Ahmad Qadri briefed on conservation and beautification works for Dal and Nigeen lakes. Initiatives include biomethanation of lake waste, installation of musical fountains, development of theme parks, integrated lake management plans, and eco-hamlets with sewerage networks under PMDP and related schemes.

Chief Secretary Dulloo reiterated the importance of coordinated, timely, and sustainable execution to balance urban development with environmental conservation across Jammu and Kashmir.