Jammu and Kashmir Streamlines Construction Approval Process

The Jammu and Kashmir government is poised to simplify the process of granting No Objection Certificates for construction projects within municipal areas, Social Welfare Minister Sakeena Itoo announced during an Assembly session. The move addresses concerns about delays in issuing requisite approvals, which have been raised by lawmakers including People’s Conference legislator Sajad Gani Lone.

According to the J-K Unified Building Bylaws 2021, NOCs from various departments like town planning are mandatory before any construction project can proceed. Minister Itoo highlighted that only three town planners are available to serve 40 local bodies, indicating a need for a streamlined process to accommodate the growing demand.

The Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir, has been reorganised to create a district cadre aimed at better preparing and implementing master plans for towns. The minister assured that officials will be instructed to issue NOCs promptly, while taking into account suggestions from legislators to minimize public inconvenience.