The Anti Corruption Bureau should wake up and take cognizance of various complaints pending against the employees of JDA and seized all records pertaining to BOCA and illegal buildings for ‘Shudikaran’ of JDA, says Prof. S.K.Bhalla.
JAMMU: The BOCA teams (Building Operation Control Act) constituted to act against illegal buildings being constructed in violation of Jammu Master Plan-2032 within Jammu Development Authority jurisdiction in a twist of events becomes blessings from ‘heaven’ for willful violators resulting in huge loss to state exchequer besides raising question marks over the exact intention behind its constitution.
Sharing a long list of commercial buildings with photographs which are either under constructions or completed, reliable sources revealed these illegal constructions reflects level of corruption prevailing in JDA. “Constructions sans approved plan means huge loss to the state exchequer” said JDA sources.
Fees for commercial buildings is Rs 25/sq feet whereas for residential structure it’s Rs 5/sq feet. Unauthorised constructions means, this amount simply goes into pockets of those entrusted with the task of keeping check on it, said an insider in JDA.
The BOCA team constituted by the then Vice Chairperson Babila Rakwal vide Order No 13-JDA of 2020 dated 27-06-2020 for enforcing provisions of BOCA in compliance of order No-HUD/JMC/31/2020 dated 08-05-2020 allegedly become an instrument for smooth construction of commercial structures belonging to the influential businessmen in upcoming commercial zones in Jagti along National Highway, Nagrota, Chouadhi, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Baribrahmna and Kot Bhalwal.
Two teams were formed, one for zone A- comprising of Nitin Kumar Bhuria, JE JDA Div II (now replaced by JE Saqib Qureshi), Balwinder Singh Patwari, Yashpal Sharma, plumber working as in charge Khilfwarzi Inspector and Sansar Chand, Surveyor reporting to Tehsildar Ranjit Singh Chib. Whereas, the Zone B team headed by Tehsildar Samridhi Sharma (KAS) is comprised of four officials namely Sanjay Hali, JE JDA Div I, Mohd Ishtaq, Patwari, Rajinder Kumar, work supervisor working as I/c Khilafwarzi Inspector and Mela Ram, surveyor.
Rampant constructions sans approved plans reflects alleged deep nexus between BOCA teams and violators, said officer of JDA preferring anonymity. In market, these teams are known as ‘Grahi Team’, he alleged.
The recent complaint against driver of JDA, Director Land Management (DLM) namely Balbir Singh with photograph while accepting gratification amount is an eye opener about the mess prevailing in JDA. In JDA, DLM is head of enforcement team and the ACB must enquire everything pertaining to DLM working for the last 2 years and role of driver Balbir in Grahi nexus, avers an officer of JDA.
In the past one year except file work no concrete action was taken during the then DLM of JDA namely Puneet Sharma against illegal constructions which are fast emerging one after another in mentioned areas, added sources.
As per rules book, the areas lying outside the JMC limit and falls in JDA jurisdiction, prior to undertaking any new commercial/residential construction its mandatory to obtain building permission with approved plan from designated authority in JDA. There is strict provision of action ranging from demolition to sealing for not adhering to laid down rules.
Strangely, the owners of illegal buildings in these mentioned areas commenced constructions prior to grant of permission. Thereafter, the BOCA team visited the spot and issued show cause notice to the violators under section 7 (1). The most interesting part in this entire game of match fixing is that instead of acting against the violators at initial stage, the BOCA team preferred friendly approach towards these willful defaulters and only issued notice u/s 12 (1), 12 (2), 12 (3), 7(3) for official purpose to keep their side safe in this entire match fixing . The final notice u/s 8(1) of BOCA was taken only in those cases where the complaints were brought into the notice of higher authorities.
The files prepared by BOCA team of Zone B and Zone A pertaining to illegal commercial constructions speaks volume of corruption prevailing in JDA on the name of issuance of notice, alleged one member of BOCA team preferring anonymity. From issuance of first notice under 7 (1) to last under 8 (1), the violators complete illegal building but the officers of JDA did nothing to stop it except issuing notice, said an officer of JDA.
Only in the past few months with the arrival of upright officer officer Rohit Khajuria as VC and incharge DLM Kusum Chib-the JDA has initiated strict action against the violators under the various provision of BOCA.
In Jagti nearly 30 commercial establishments were constructed without any approval from JDA in last one year. Similarly, several multi level illegal commercial structures in violation of JMP-2032 are under construction in Chowadhi, Nagrota, BariBrahmna, Vijaypur and Bishnah.
The Anti Corruption Bureau should wake up and take cognizance of various complaints pending against the employees of JDA and seized all records pertaining to BOCA and illegal buildings for ‘Shudikaran’ of JDA, added Prof. Bhalla.
Clarifying on the issue Samridhi Sharma, Tehsildar JDA (BOCA Team Zone B) and Ranjit Singh, Tehsildar, JDA (BOCA team Zone A) said “We are doing our job sincerely and shifts the blame towards police for failure to stop illegal constructions”
When further asked, what BOCA teams were exactly doing when violators were constructing illegal commercial structures in Jagti, Nagrota, Chowadhi, Vijaypur and Bishnah-the duo said “We have proposed action u/s 8(1) of BOCA and the matter is pending for approval before VC. But fails to convince as to why they allowed completion and operation of these illegal constructions despite aware about them in the inception.