Even as the Anti Corruption Bureau FILLED charge sheet against SMC’S officials AND violators for constructions without approved plans, a million-dollar question is echoing across Jammu- why has not even a single officer or official of the JDA faced similar action despite rampant mushrooming of massive unauthorized commercial structures across its jurisdiction? Terming it a matter demanding urgent ACB intervention, insiders alleged that an entrenched corruption network is openly thriving under the garb of “managing” illegal constructions in rapidly expanding commercial belts as well illegal colonies, causing colossal loss to the state exchequer in the shape of building permission fees and causing a severe blow to planned urban development in Jammu.
The alleged mushrooming of unlawful commercial constructions in the fast-emerging Baribrahmna–Vijaypur belt has brought the functioning of the enforcement wing of the Jammu Development Authority under intense public scrutiny, with serious questions being raised over the role of Khilafwarzi Inspector Rahil Sharma, whose transfer from Jagti to the Baribrahmna–Vijaypur zone is now being linked to a fresh surge in alleged violations.
At the centre of the controversy is a gigantic commercial structure coming up at Sarore Adda opposite Arracota Construction reportedly without mandatory building permission from JDA. Locals alleged that while the enforcement machinery “appears within moments” when an ordinary citizen starts constructing even a small residential room, no visible action has been initiated against the massive commercial structure despite ongoing large-scale construction activity. “If the structure is visibly being raised without permission, what exactly is the enforcement inspector waiting for?” questioned a resident of Sarore, adding that if a defaulter manages to complete illegal construction despite issuance of notices it evidently shows what cooking behind the curtains between the enforcement officials and the violators.
The controversy has revived memories of the Jagti-Ban belt where, during the tenure of the same enforcement inspector, several major commercial structures allegedly came up right under the nose of the enforcement machinery despite clear provisions of the COBO Act, 1988, mandating completion of process from issuance of notice to sealing or demolition within seven days against the violators.
There are allegations that during the tenure of same JDA official violators reportedly managed to complete huge structures over several months while only symbolic notices of sealing were pasted after substantial construction had already taken place, triggering allegations of a “well-planned quid pro quo arrangement” within sections of the enforcement setup.
Significantly, when JK Global News highlighted controversial structures raised within Zamindhara Dhaba at Jagti, Nagrota Bazaar opposite a petrol pump where slab work allegedly continued despite sealing, besides violations near Paras Dhaba Jagti and TCP Nagrota, the authorities instead of initiating enquiry to fix accountability shifted the concerned enforcement inspector to another fast developing commercial area.
Revealing what sources described as an “organized mechanism” to patronize illegal constructions in commercially important zones, reliable insiders in JDA alleged that enforcement officials remain fully aware of every unauthorized construction from the very beginning.
“Where some understanding is involved, geo-tagged photographs of the structures are quietly maintained. If media reports or public complaints expose the violation, notices are instantly issued with back dates to protect the officials concerned,” alleged a source.
Senior sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department described every illegally raised commercial structure as “a symbol of organized corruption” causing huge loss to the state exchequer and damaging planned urban development.
The sources further claimed that illegal commercial buildings and unauthorized colonies are rapidly expanding across JDA jurisdiction, particularly in areas falling along the Ring Road corridor including Birpur, Vijaypur, Baribrahmna, Bishnah, Jagti, Kot Bhalwal, Chowadhi, Phallian Mandal and Gole Gujjral.
Efforts to seek a response from the Vice Chairman of the Jammu Development Authority could not materialize till the filing of this report. The story will be updated as and when his response is received.