Jammu, June 11: Legal hiccups and official apathy has grounded the two year old proposal of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to construct shopping complexes on its vacant land in various parts of Jammu city
 Sources informed Greater Kashmir that in its 2010 board meeting, JDA decided to construct shopping complexes to commercially exploit open pieces of land in various parts of Jammu, but surprisingly it consigned the proposal to cold storage. The proposed shopping complexes were to be taken up on Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode, they said.
 “JDA had mooted three  proposals to construct shopping complexes on its vacant land   behind Hotel Asia, while another was to be built at Bus stand over the proposed multi storey parking and the third some where in Janipur area” sources revealed.
 Officials of JDA on condition of anonymity informed that it was also decided in the Board meeting that JDA would execute the projects on PPP mode. “The JDA authorities had to explore possibilities to involve private firms   . The JDA would provide them land while the independent agency would invest money in the establishment of shopping complexes” they said, adding that the terms and conditions in the construction of multistory shopping complexes would have to be decided later.
 They further said the proposal of construction of multistory shopping complexes was mooted with a purpose to enhance the revenue of JDA and  to create employment opportunities for local youth. “The land of JDA available behind Hotel Asia is laying vacant since last many decades and with the construction of multi storey shopping complex there will be optimum use of land and it will also increase the revenue component of JDA” officials said, adding that due to some legal implications the projects were hanging in balance.
 When contacted, secretary JDA Yousuf Malik, while confirming the proposal having   been adopted in 2010 board meeting, said that the project was not materialized due to some legal hi-cups.
  “It was decided to construct Multi Storey shopping complexes on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode but due to some legal implications of Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act 1960, the private players does not come forward to invest in J&K” he said. He further said that involvement of private players would become possible only after briging some amendments in the Land Grants Act.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST