CAG REPORT: Jammu MC failed to address parking problem

CAG REPORT
Jammu MC failed to address parking problem
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, April 5
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its report for the year ended March 31, 2010 has indicted the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), which has an area of 112 sq km, for failing to carry out a study to explore the possibility of more parking lots in the city.

The CAG report stated, “No study has ever been carried out by the JMC to ascertain the parking requirements so as to solve the prevailing parking problem”. So far, the city, having a population of over 12 lakh, has three parking lots.

Terming parking as a key issue, the CAG report stated that it required the attention of the JMC, as the parking problem was assuming an alarming proportion with a rapid increase in the number of vehicles. However, the JMC, in its reply to the CAG, stated that for the creation of parking lots it would take steps after consulting the Traffic Department and the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) for conducting surveys.

The report also highlighted another important issue of encroachments upon footpaths.

It said, “The Audit did not find any evidence of records showing the total length and breadth of footpaths on roads within the municipal limits and action taken to remove temporary and permanent encroachments upon footpaths so that these could be used by pedestrians unobstructed”.

The CAG report also stated that no inspection reports were ever prepared or submitted to any authority by the anti-encroachment wing of the JMC. On the issue, the JMC replied to the CAG that though drives for the removal of encroachments were being conducted, shopkeepers were again encroaching upon footpaths.

Following this reply of the JMC, the CAG reported that this was indicative of the fact that action taken by the corporation was ineffective.