In a state witnessing fast urbanisation, the Junagadh Urban Development Authority (JUDA), set up in July 2008, is yet to undertake even the basic exercises for town planning and expansion due to absence of technical staff.
Though the state government had appointed an executive officer in December 2009, the official is not in a position to start any project in the absence of town planner, surveyors, land record keeper, accountants and other supporting staff required for an urban development agency.
Junagadh City Local BJP MLA Mahendra Mashru said that Gujarat State Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel has promised him to appoint these staff and personnel as soon as possible. But Junagadh Deputy Mayor Girish Kotecha, a Congressman, said that so much delay in the appointments indicates step-motherly treatment meted out to the town located near Somnath Mandir and Gir National Park, the last habitat of Asiatic lions.
JUDA executive officer Jayesh Gadhia admitted that he alone could not undertake the works of an urban development agency. He said the government had sanctioned a total of 27 staff, including himself for JUDA but they were yet to be appointed. “I am hopeful that I will get my staff as early as possible,” he said.
While Patel refused to comment on the required appointments, saying, “it is JUDA chairman’s duty to arrange staff’’, Junagadh District Collector A R Parmar, who heads the Authority, said he was waiting for staff.
Kotecha said that against financial allocations of Rs 100 crore each for municipal corporations of Bhavnagar City and Jamnagar City for 2010-11, merely Rs 25 crore have been allocated for the JMC. He said the JMC, which came into being in 2004, required more funds for development to meet the requirements of lakhs of pilgrims visiting temples at nearby Girnar Hills every year.
The Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation, Jamnagar Municipal Corporation and Junagadh Municipal Corporation have 17 wards each and 51 corporators, with each ward electing three corporators. According to Kotecha, the areas on the outskirts of the city could be developed properly if JUDA began town planning schemes, with plans for roads and other amenities.
There is a no staff i juda.it is must req. for devlopment of junagadh........Yatin Mashru(junagadh municipal corporation)
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