SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed serious concerns over the inadequacies in the public consultation process for the proposed amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Unified Building Byelaws (UBBL) 2021, recently notified by the Housing and Urban Development Department. The chamber has highlighted several significant shortcomings that it believes require urgent redress.
One of the primary concerns raised by the KCCI is the limited timeframe for public consultation. The current deadline of January 18, 2025, allows little room for meaningful participation, particularly given the complexity of the proposed building regulations, which demand detailed technical reviews by professionals across various sectors.
Another issue underscored by the KCCI is the insufficient dissemination of information regarding the proposed amendments. While the draft amendments are available on the department’s website, there has been no widespread publication in local newspapers, either in English or vernacular languages. The lack of direct communication with professional bodies, trade associations, and rural and semi-urban communities has further limited awareness among stakeholders who are likely to be most affected by these changes.
The KCCI emphasised the far-reaching implications of the amendments, which will impact a wide range of stakeholders, including business chambers, architectural and engineering firms, construction companies, property developers, municipal corporations, urban local bodies, residents’ welfare associations, individual homeowners, small business owners, environmental groups, and urban planning experts. The chamber stressed that each of these groups must have the opportunity to review and provide informed feedback on the proposed changes.
To address these concerns, the KCCI has called for several immediate measures. It has urged the government to extend the consultation period by at least 90 days to enable comprehensive feedback from stakeholders. The chamber also recommended mandatory publication of the amendments in leading newspapers, radio announcements in local languages, and official notifications via district administrations to ensure widespread awareness.
In addition, the KCCI highlighted the need for improved accessibility to the amendments and proposed developing standard operating procedures for future building bye-law revisions. The creation of permanent stakeholder consultation committees, regular review mechanisms, and a dedicated digital platform for continuous engagement were among the long-term solutions suggested.
The chamber stressed that a robust consultation process is essential to ensure the proposed regulations are effective and serve their intended purpose. It urged the government to address the identified shortcomings, noting that doing so would not only improve the quality of the final regulations but also strengthen public trust in governance.
