JAMMU: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) which recently cannot dare to act against a miniscule worker of National Conference, Rashida Begum for executing slab work on encroached JDA land in heart of city at Qasim Nagar, New Bahu Fort Colony surprisingly in a farfetched act of Don Quixote have flashed notice to a senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Prof. Nirmal Singh for demolition of his Kingdom which he constructed at village Ban in violation of JMP-2032.
The demolition order number JDA/BOCA/A/1271-76 dated 8-11-2021, issued under section 7(3) of control of Building operation Act, 1988 to Dr. Nirmal Singh and his wife Mamta Singh reads “If you fail to remove the illegal construction within stipulated period of time the same shall be demolished by enforcement wing of JDA and cost of removal shall be recovered from you as arrears of land revenue”.
Branding the JDA move as an eyewash, reliable sources in Housing and Urban Development Department said ” Demolition notice with 5 days time is a paper horse which is actionless on ground”
Referring to sealing of Dens of Drugs in Sidhara, the sources said “This year in the month of February, the JDA issued demolition notice with week time to several land grabbers who construct commercial establishments on encroached land belongs to JDA. But, since then the files pertaining to these demolition notice have become a game of snake and ladder between the office of Vice Chairman, JDA and concerned officers.
On the issue of encroachment of JDA land by Rashida Begum, one Khilafarzi Inspector of JDA said” The construction on encroached JDA land was brought into the notice of higherups but the field officer was instructed by PA namely Roshan of VC, JDA Pankaj Magotra to remain silent as per the verbal instruction of boss”
Similarly, in the month of September, the JDA authorities reportedly on the instruction of VC JDA, Pankaj Magotra has issued notice to all commercial establishments which were constructed along both sides of National Highway at Jagti in Nagrota without approved plan in recent past. The caveat was also filed in the court against these illegal structures. But, suddenly the JDA shelved the action plan for reasons best known to higherups.
“Issuance of notice is a lucrative exercise for section of employees in JDA who are masters in encouraging illegal commercial structures in Chowadhi, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Jagti, KotBhalwal, Nagrota, Sidhara and Birpur. The exercise has been used as milking dividened on illegal structures which once allowed to construct by corrupt Khilafarzi officials of JDA” alleged an officer of JDA wishing anonymity.
These series of lackadaisical acts of JDA only points to one thing that the authorities only believes in running paper horse against encroachers as well as violators of JMP-2032 to befool the general public and higherups, said another officer of JDA wishing anonymity.
Prof. Nirmal Singh constructed his residential palace on 2,000-square meters in close vicinity of Army’s ammunition sub depot in Nagrota when he happened to be Dy CM and holding portfolio as Minister for Housing and Urban Development in BJP-PDP coalition government in erstwhile J&K state.
Since it’s inception in 2017, this building remains in controversy after renowned public spirited and social activists Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad as well as Prof. S.K. Bhalla raised voice against construction of this illegal structure in JDA jurisdiction sans approved plan.
Even, the matter was also dragged in court of law by Army. But, despite all prevailing odds, the kindom of Prof. Singh was finally completed in 2021 in alleged connivance with JDA, police and civil administration.
Surprisingly, the JDA authorities which prefer to remain silent for long against this controversial construction only wake up from deep slumber after Advocate Muzaffar Ali Shah had recently filed RTI seeking its status.
This surprise move of JDA no doubt have served desired page one stuff for newspapers and matter of spicy discussions for media channels for few days. But, the grapevine however is that this notice has just created another file to bite dust in the cupboards of ‘Vikas Bhawan’.