In today’s world, urbanisation is an unstoppable force. Every city is expanding exponentially, driven by growing populations, housing demands, and the changing aspirations of people. But this expansion, if left unplanned, creates urban chaos-mushrooming unauthorised colonies, choked drains, garbage-filled streets, and concrete jungles without green lungs. Unfortunately, this is precisely the reality of Jammu and Kashmir, where Development Authorities, created with the mandate of planned growth, have remained dormant. Their failure reflects not just institutional apathy but also a looming disaster for the urban future of the region. Development Authorities have the mandate to prepare Master Plans, regulate land use, execute civic works, and provide amenities. Yet, three years later, these bodies are lying inactive-neither meeting has been convened nor Master Plans prepared. This has defeated the very purpose of their creation. In the absence of planning, every city and town in J&K is growing haphazardly, without foresight or discipline.
With no approved layouts or systematic expansion plans, mushrooming colonies have come up across the Union Territory. Most of them are unauthorised and, therefore, absent from official records. This means no allocation of funds for essential works like roads, drainage, electricity, or drinking water. At the same time, every available piece of land-whether khad, nullah, water body, or Government-owned plot-is being encroached upon. Practically, J&K’s land pool has devolved into an unregulated environment. Adding to the chaos is the absence of proper demarcation between Government, private, and forest lands, which has only encouraged disputes, litigation, and illegal occupations. The very reason Development Authorities were constituted was to check this mess. They were envisioned as the engines of modern growth-responsible for conducting civic surveys, preparing Master Plans, and providing blueprints for phased, organised expansion. But instead of becoming instruments of progress, they have turned into mere announcements on paper. The Housing and Urban Development Department, which is the custodian of J&K’s urban planning, has failed to ensure even basic functionality.
The consequences of this neglect are severe. Without Master Plans, cities are turning into unlivable concrete messes. Parks, landscapes, playgrounds, and community spaces are absent. There is no systematic allocation of land for markets, schools, or hospitals. Worse, there is no plan for solid waste management or sewage treatment, leaving each locality filled with garbage piles and overflowing drains. Unregulated expansion has already robbed cities of their character, and if this trend continues, J&K will have little more than unplanned clusters of buildings without basic amenities.
The recent floods were a grim reminder of the dangers of unplanned growth. Localities were inundated, household goods perished, and life savings of ordinary citizens were washed away. Such disasters only expose the vulnerability of cities where construction has taken place without drainage systems, flood zoning, or ecological safeguards. Unless proper planning is enforced, every spell of heavy rain will push residents to the edge of ruin. The people, in the end, are the real sufferers of official apathy.
Governance cannot afford such paralysis. The Government must intervene immediately to revive Development Authorities. Meetings should be convened without delay, Master Plans must be prepared on a time-bound basis, and accountability must be fixed at every stage. Officials appointed to these bodies cannot be allowed to sit idle; their performance must be reviewed, and bottlenecks cleared. Planned development is not a luxury but a necessity, and every city in J&K requires a proper layout with designated residential colonies, commercial hubs, and industrial zones.
The contrast with other cities is telling. Chandigarh and Indore today draw tourists not just for their attractions but also for their clean, well-planned urban landscapes. They did not emerge overnight but were built on the foundation of meticulous planning, strict adherence to regulations, and effective institutions. J&K too has to move in that direction-but only if its Development Authorities are made functional in letter and spirit. For now, the failure of these authorities symbolises wasted opportunities and broken promises. Planned cities are the backbone of modern economies, and without them, J&K risks sinking deeper into chaos.
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