Purpose and Accomplishments of Development Authority Muzaffarabad (DAM)
Development Authority Muzaffarabad (DAM) was Established under the light of Development Authority Muzaffarabad Act 1989 that acts as Authority’s charter. The fundamental objective behind the Establishment of this Authority is to develop strategies to meet the growing needs of planned housing facilities for the urban population, master planning as well as to building control authority. The Authority has played a vital role in regulating construction control of city’s development patterns and guidelines.
After the 2005 deadliest Earthquake the Government assigned duties of reconstruction and rehabilitation of civic area of Muzaffarabad City to this Authority. DAM has contributed in JICA study for locating different seismic zones in order to locate the green areas safe for the development of housing facilities in the city according to seismic hazard. On that basis DAM devised a Comprehensive Master Plane to improve the existing housing and Civic facilities as well as to meet the growing earthquake resistance housing requirement for inhabitants of Muzaffarabad City.
As after the Earthquake 2005 the Muzaffarabad City was facing acute shortage of houses and the is a dire need to reduce the residential facilities due to mass transfer of population from different parts of the state the Development Authority launched two housing Schemes Langarpura and Thotha satellite towns for the relocation of master plan afeectees as well as the public residing in hazard zones and to reduce the pressure of housing demand. Besides these satellite towns DAM proposed 104 projects in quake hit areas of its Notified Area. Among these 104 projects, there are shopping complex, parks, bridges, water supply schemes, sanitation, infrastructure, grid station etc. Out of those 104 projects development authority has completed 38 projects with the help of Chinese government loaning facility implemented by ERRA.
Moreover, in an effort to provide low income housing to the inhabitants, the Development Authority launched various housing scheme projects that have contributed a lot in providing much needed housing facilities.
The development authority is keen and continuously struggling to make the capital city more lively, beautiful and people centric. All of these accomplishments have been made possible through the untiring efforts of highly skilled and motivated officers and staff of development authority that has made this Authority the hallmark of excellence.