HT Correspondent
JAGIROAD, Aug 8: A distressing situation persists as the employees of the Jagiroad Development Authority (JDA) have been denied their rightful monthly salaries for the past 48 months. The government of Assam established the Jagiroad Development Authority (JDA) in 1989 under the provisions of the Assam Town and Country Planning Act 1959 (as amended) to oversee the execution of master plans and zoning regulations. The government’s initiative extended beyond the JDA, with the formation of an additional 24 development authorities across various towns in Assam, all aimed at master plan implementation and zoning regulation enforcement.
Each Authority consists of a chairman from the ruling party, a member secretary cum town planner from the relevant district’s Town and Country Planning Office, along with several members including the local MLA, deputy commissioner, and department heads. These development authorities are primarily tasked with granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for building construction and land sale deed registration. While they also have the potential to undertake development schemes and generate revenue, a dearth of adequate funds and land has hindered most authorities from undertaking such initiatives.
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Consequently, the authorities heavily rely on the fees collected from NOC issuance, which falls significantly short of meeting the employees’ needs. Adding to the challenges, the government has curtailed the jurisdiction of development authorities in accordance with the 74th amendment to the Constitution of India, excluding Urban Local Body (ULB) areas from their purview. This limitation restricts the authorities’ fee collection to construction projects outside the ULB territory. Moreover, allegations have surfaced that the government has not provided funding to the development authorities for the past few years.
This predicament has cast a shadow over the employees of not just the Jagiroad Development Authority, but also those across all 24 development authorities, who endure sleepless nights due to the prolonged absence of their salaries. The All Assam Development Authority Employees Joint Council (AADAEJC) has submitted numerous memorandums to the chief minister, Urban Development Minister, Commissioner, and Secretaries of the Urban Development Department (UDD). Despite these efforts, no concrete measures have been devised by the UDD to bolster the development authorities, including the vital matter of employee compensation.
The employees of the Development Authorities implore the government to address the dire circumstances they face and take immediate actions to rectify the situation.
