By IANS,
Chandigarh : In a bid to decentralise the process of urban development across Punjab, the state government Wednesday extended the jurisdiction of six developmental authorities that were city specific.
These are Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Badal said that Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) would now also look after Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Rajpura towns in the Patiala district, besides Mohali.
The jurisdiction of Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has been extended to Moga, Nawanshahr, Ferozepur and Phillaur of Jalandhar district.
Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) would cover Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) would cover Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran towns.
The Patiala Development Authority (PDA) would look after Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala towns while Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) would now have jurisdiction over Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur, apart from Bathinda.
Badal said these authorities would now provide services to the public at the local level for the change of land use, licensing of colonies, completion certificates, besides disposing of grievances of plot holders and regulating process of urban development in the respective areas.
“Decentralisation of development authorities would also enable the officers to focus their attention on the integrated growth of the areas in a cohesive manner. Earlier, it was difficult for officers at Chandigarh to take care of the entire state,” Badal said.