Illegal constructions in Tehsil Nagrota continue unabated, raising serious questions over the enforcement credibility of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA). Despite clear building permission norms and zoning regulations, violations are surfacing regularly in the fast-expanding peripheral belts of Jagti and Ban, which are steadily emerging as commercial hotspots on Jammu’s outskirts.
Locals allege that enforcement action is conpiciuously absent at the inception stage. Instead, structures are allowed to come up in blatant violation of sanctioned plans, only for token notices to be served much later. In several instances, demolition drives appear reactive rather than preventive, says Rajinder Sharma, a resident of Nagrota.
Pointing towards a fresh massive illegal commercial construction at Nagrota behind Green Top Vaishno Bhojanalaya, sources point out a disturbing pattern- Enforcement wing of JDA swings into action only after this news portal exposes massive unplanned growth in the area in utter violation of JMP-2032.
Further sharing details, the insiders in JDA alleged that a team of JDA enforcement wing led by Khilafawarzi inspector namely Rahil Sharma visited this spot but there after what conspired between the violator and JDA team is now under cloud leaving so many uncomfortable questions unanswered as the construction at said spot is in full swing.
Questioning the credibility of enforcement inspector deployed in the area, another resident of Jagti, preferring anonymity said “If the media can identify violations in a jiffy, why can’t the enforcement wing?”
Sharing a copy of the recent office order No. 01 JDA of 2026 dated 14/02/2026, issued by the Vice Chairman regarding redistribution of work for “efficient and expeditious supervision” of enforcement under the COBO Act, reliable sources in JDA have further added,”This reshuffle itself is an admission that the earlier enforcement mechanism was either ineffective or compromised”.
Noted public spirited activist and a whistleblower, Prof. S.K.Bhalla emphatically asserted “The unchecked construction boom in Jammu’s outskirt which is fast emerging as commercial and residential hub if allowed to expand in blatant violation of town planning laws shall surely result in another Urban chaos. Commercial complexes and multi-storey structures come up in violation of norms, corrective action becomes politically and administratively cumbersome”.
Demanding fixing of accountability with exemplary punitive action against delinquent officers/officials , Prof Bhalla further said that these large scale illegalities cannot sustain unless the violators enjoy support from within.
Efforts to contact the concerned in JDA on the matter failed. We will update the news item after hearing from the concerned.
JK Global News Take: The apparent complacency of the JDA at the foundational stage of construction has emboldened violators, undermining regulatory discipline. Unless timely inspections and strict on-site interventions are institutionalised, Nagrota risks turning into yet another case study of avoidable urban disorder fuelled by weak enforcement and selective action.