Assam: Jagiroad Development Authority employees deprived of legitimate monthly salary

JAGIROAD: The employees of Jagiroad Development Authority (JDA) are deprived of their legitimate monthly salary for the last 48 months. The Government of Assam constituted Jagiroad Development Authority (JDA) under the provision of the Assam Town and Country Planning Act 1959 (as amended) in 1989 for implementation of master plan and zoning regulation.

The Government of Assam not only constituted JDA but also created another 24 development authorities in different towns of Assam for implementation of master plan and zoning regulation. The Government forms the authorities with one chairman from the ruling party in each town with one member secretary-cum-town planner from the concerned district Town and Country Planning office and a few members including local MLA, deputy commissioner and heads of all department.

The main function of the development authorities is to issue NOC for construction of buildings and NOC for registration of land sale deed. Apart from that it is learnt that the development authorities can undertake development schemes and can earn revenues. Following lack of sufficient fund and land, majority of the authorities could not under take such development schemes so far. As such, the authorities are solely dependent on the fees collected from issue of NOC which is not at all sufficient to cater to the needs of the employees. On the other hand the government vide implementation of 74th amendment of the Constitution of India, has cut area of operation of development authorities and as such the area covered by ULB within the jurisdiction of Development Authority is not under the purview of development authorities. So the development authorities can collect fees for construction of houses outside the ULB (Urban Local Body) area. It is also alleged that Government is not funding for development authorities for the last couple of years together.

As a result, the employees of development authorities not only in Jagiroad but in all 24 districts are passing sleepless nights following non receipt of their salaries for months. All Assam Development Authority Employees Joint Council (AADAEJC) has submitted many memoranda to the Chief Minister, Urban Development Minister, Commissioner and Secretaries to the UDD (Urban Development Department), but no measure has been formulated by the UDD for strengthening the development authorities including payment of its employees. The employees of development authorities urge upon the government to look into the deplorable condition of its employees and take immediate measures.

Also Read: Assam: Drugs worth Rs 3 crore recovered in Karbi Anglong

Also Watch;