JAMMU: Under construction multi level buildings situated at village Chowadhi and Sarore national Highway are best example of large scale corruption prevailing in Jammu Development Authority in connivance with BOCA teams as well as influential land developers of illegal colonies.
Giving details about huge illegal building at Chowadhi, reliable sources in Housing and Urban Development Department said “The construction of building in question was commenced in the month of January this year without any approved plan and the land where it’s located falls within JDA jurisdiction as per revenue records and JMP-2032.”
Confiding anonymity one officer who was earlier handling a crucial position in JDA said “Since its inception, the concerned officers in JDA were aware of this illegal construction but strangely instead of initiating action as per building laws allow the violator to continue construction from plinths upto fourth floor”
The locals of Chowadhi while sharing startling revelations about the modus operandi adopted by field staff of JDA in encouraging illegal commercial buildings in the area complained that the Khilafwarzi inspectors as well officers of BOCA team constantly harassed us for construction of small one room accommodation but prefers to remain silent on big commercial structures which are constructed in the same area with impunity”
The new Vice Chairman, JDA, Pankaj Magotra, is a man of integrity and has initiated relentless sealing campaign from day one after assuming the chair in JDA but ironically not even a single influential person or developer of illegal colonies have been touched since his arrival, avers an aggrieved Rajinder, a resident of Chowadhi.
It’s learnt that the ground staff as well officials of BOCA team who were always lenient towards illegal constructions for some obvious reasons are misleading the new VC JDA Pankaj Magotra about the illegal commercial constructions in Chowadhi especially about under construction of multistoried flats building.
It’s the high time the Anti Corruption Bureau rise to the occasion and registered case pertaining to under construction tall commercial buildings at Chowadhi and Sarore adjoining National Highway and exposed those black sheep in JDA who bragged of close proximity with higher ups ACJ, Jammu and Kashmir, the officer added.
When JKGN tried to enquire status of this huge under construction illegal building at Chowadhi from Enforcement Inspector of JDA BOCA team, Rajinder Kumar, he tried to distract us with contradicting and misleading information.
At first instance, he said “The area falls in JMC jurisdiction and on the instruction of VC, the JDA team visited the spot and found it has approved plan passed by JMC” Few days later, when we informed him that JMC officials have submitted a report about this illegal building to Commissioner stating that its situated outside their jurisdiction and never ever JMC accord approval for its construction, then Kumar said “Khilafwarzi Inspector of JDA Naresh Khajuria have collected the land documents from the owner namely Amir of Kashmir and submitted the same to Tehsildar Samridhi Sharma for verification and necessary action” Again when contacted after a week, BOCA Inspector of JDA said “ The authority in JDA is contemplating to seal this building”.
However, reliable sources in JDA alleged that the palms of several officials have been greased for paving way for construction of this building at Chowadhi and which belongs to an influential businessman of Kashmir. Even, a flat in this building has been assured to one officer of JDA for keeping silent on its construction, alleged JDA sources.
Interestingly, when today the JKGN team visited the spot, the plastering work was going at rocket speed as if the owner of this illegal building has been instructed by someone from JDA to finish the work as soon as possible.
Even, a person from Kashmir while flaunting himself as an accredited Journalist working as Editor of Gulistan News Channel have tried to influence JKGN from highlighting the corrupt practices of JDA employees vis viz illegal multi storied building at Chowadhi. Another influential person tried to bribe us with Rs two lakhs to dissuade us from highlighting this issue which we are pursuing since long to awake the JDA as well as ACB authorities.
The JDA is acting against the construction of illegal commercial/residential buildings in pick and choose manner. Huge commercial illegal buildings belonging to the influentials are left untouched while the focus is purely on haves not” said an officer of JDA.
When contacted incharge DLM JDA, said “The matter is under investigation and strict action under law will be taken against illegal buildings in question. On being asked as to what action the authorities is initiating against those choose to remained silent on such huge illegal constructions, she said “There are already 25 officials under suspension on such charges and only higher is competent to decide on it”