Upcoming large scale illegal residential colonies besides constructions of lofty commercial buildings without approved plans in and around fast emerging new commercial hub which includes, Phallian Mandal, Camp Gole Gujjral, Sarore, Chowadhi, Birpur, Jagti, Vijaypur, Bishnah, Gharota and KotBhalwal shows the alarming level of corruption prevailing in Jammu Development Authority. Strangely, these areas fall within JDA jurisdiction who so far miserably fails to book the defaulters resulting in sprawling growth of unplanned habitation. Devoid of civic amenities, these illegal and unplanned colonies are putting undue stress on existing infrastructure without contributing to state exchequer in the form requisite approval fees kept mandatory by the government for establishment of private colonies as well as for construction of commercial and residential structures. The silence of JDA field staff especially BOCA and enforcement team clearly shows the defaulters enjoys strong patronage from the enforcement team of JDA. Collectively, this is a deliberate colossal loss worth crores to the state exchequer which warrants indepth investigation by Anti Corruption Bureau.
Except a few pockets, this entire area is under jurisdiction of Jammu Development Authority-the premier agency of Housing and Urban Development Department which is administered with responsibility to ensure every fresh construction and upcoming private colonies in its jurisdiction established in accordance with rule of law that is equally applicable to one and all.
Sadly, mocking repeated directives of H&UDD as well Anti Corruption Bureau, the JDA’s enforcement team and more especially tarnished BOCA gang allegedly hand in gloves with the mafia of illegal colonies which includes notorious land grabbers as well as fraudsters enjoying patronage of a section of police officers and politicians has miserably failed to check large scale illegal structures and colonies which are under progress haphazardously in Bishnah, Vijaypur, Gharota, KotBhalwal, Jagti, Phallian Mandal etc with impunity.
There are allegations that JDA enforcement and BOCA team are actively patronizing these illegal colonies and constructions. There is no transparency with regards to initiation of action against the defaulters as the JDA neither update information on its website as part of voluntary disclosures nor ready to share it under RTI act citing lame excuses. The sequence of events evidently shows active involvement of JDA officials in shielding these unauthorized colonies and buildings as such vast colonies and lofty structures are not capable of constructed on its own in a jiffy. Indeed, the enforcement inspector as well as BOCA team of JDA is hand in gloves with willful violators. Constructions of large number of commercial structures in Jagti without approved plan is appropriate case to understood working pattern of JDA staff. The Vice Chairman Mr. Pankaj Magotra after assuming the charge of JDA had personally visited Jagti and Nagrota area following which show cause notices with caveat in court of law were served to 25 illegal commercial establishments in Jagti. No one knows the fate of this much hyped exercise of Mr. Magotra.
In fact, there is well established system prevailing in JDA to help the violators to raise illegal constructions. In a unique manner, the enforcement wing allow the violators to complete the constructions without approved plan. Then, as part of eyewash exercise, they issued notices under BOCA Act in files which are nothing but paper horse. This speaks about volume of corruption prevailing in JDA else what’s constrained the BOCA team to sleep in deep slumber for months and years together after serving show cause notice to the violators under section 7(1) at initial stage as part of token exercise. Under rules, the BOCA needs to accomplish the notice issuance exercise from 7(1) to 8(1) within 15 days. Perhaps, only the concerned Tehsildars and BOCA team could better explain their compulsions which become stumbling block in way of executing their official duties. We are of the view that BOCA teams which were constituted vide order No 13-JDA of 2020 dated 27-06-2020 to enforce provisions of Building Bye laws as per Jammu Master Plan in compliance of order No-HUD/JMC/31/2020 dated 08-05-2020 allegedly become an instrument for shielding the willful violators in Chowadhi, Bishnah, Vijaypur and Bari Brahmna. It’s important to note that alarmed over feedback of Anti Corruption Bureau and various agencies, the Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Dheeraj Gupta vide order No HUD-LSGOJMC/16/2021-e-office (8710) dated 23-03-2021 has expressed his displeasure on lackadaisical approach of enforcement staff towards rampant illegal constructions in emerging areas and directed the VC JDA to initiate disciplinary action as warranted under rules against erring employees in this regard.
It’s unfortunate to see that there is no care taker of this directive of Administrative Department as visibly the illegal constructions are still under constructions with more intensity in JDA jurisdiction. Grapevine, however, is that even if any illegal construction reported to the concerned officers-it keeps shuttling between the Tehsildar, DLM and VC office for months and year, thus qualifying it be a fit case of investigation under relevant sections of corruption acts for Anti Corruption Bureau to ascertain the exact number of such files gathering dust in Tehsildar Zone A, Zone B and DLM office. There is no denying the fact that huge mess has been created in JDA over the last 3 years where except noting in files nothing substantial done on ground to check illegal constructions which are mushrooming against the notified JMP-2032. There is no denying the fact that if the current pace of illegal colonization continues unchecked, then soon the new developing areas situated along peripheries would appears like old Jammu city- with features like unplanned, unsafe, unhygienic settlements nullifying the provisions of master plan. The working pattern of Town planning section in JDA is also under scanner. There are reports that the officials of Town Planning in JDA are allegedly pursuing a practice which promotes illegal constructions and corruption besides causing huge loss to state exchequers due to its dismal performance in issuing permission for undertaking constructions as per approved plans. There is also a gang in JDA who in connivance with agents actively involved in ensuring illegal constructions without approved plan to the gullible citizens. The law officer and legal section also needs to be pulled up and made to justify their role in defending the JDA against the willful violators and encroachers in the court of law and they should drive strengthen and vigor from recent order of SC to demolish illegal 40- storey twin towers of Supertech in Noida. No more fixing in extending relief to violators who are hell bent to convert peaceful dwelling units into hell merely for the sake of their personal benefits.
Launching series of drive against illegal constructions and encroachment, the incumbent VC JDA, Mr. Pankaj Magotra have clearly signalled the staff down the line about his agenda–No More encroachment and illegal constructions during his tenure. The new VC is a man of integrity and with unblemished track record as Commissioner JMC twice, it would not be difficult for him to decode the modus operandi adopted by crooks to shield illegal constructions. It’s our ardent view that the new VC needs to remain vigilant about some elements in BOCA teams who earned mastery in misleading the higher-ups about status of illegal constructions and considered as favorite of some former VCs as well as DLM in past. Immediate action against identified illegal constructions is need of the hour so as to ensure planned development and good quality of life as envisaged in the JMP-2032. The undesired delay will only strengthen the violators and allow the mess to extend its tentacles wide and large well towards new developing areas of greater Jammu because once the encroachment is large enough, it will not be allowed to be demolished due to the sheer number of people involved.
The higher ups in Anti Corruption Bureau in Jammu also needs to move ahead from its long lasting love affairs with Jammu Municipal Corporation and extend caring hands towards JDA where corruption has assumed an alarming proportion. Gigantic illegal mall in vicinity of Sarore Toll Plaza, cluster of illegal commercial constructions at Jagti and scores of huge commercial under construction buildings at Chowadhi are significant leads for efficient and capable sleuths of Anti Corruption Bureau in Jammu to begin with.