Existence of commercial activities inside a sealed eatery structure in Jagti—whose owner brazenly brags of proximity to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah—raises serious doubts over transparency in the JDA’s enforcement wing-says locals.
Rampant illegal constructions continue to mushroom across Jagti, Nagrota and Bhalwal area, raising serious questions over the effectiveness and intent of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in enforcing the Jammu Master Plan and building byelaws.
Multiple structures are coming up without seeking mandatory building permission, yet enforcement on the ground remains conspicuously weak causing massive revenue loss to state exchequer in the shape of building permission and land use change fees.
In Jagti, locals pointed to a glaring instance where a double-storey building behind Grand Flavour 44 eatery is being openly raised in complete violation of norms. A resident alleged that the violator has been acting with impunity, brazenly claiming proximity to an enforcement inspector posted in the area and projecting himself as a relative of a dismissed JDA employee. “Such claims embolden violators and silence officials,” the local remarked.
The incumbent enforcement inspector, Rahil Sharma, however, maintains that action under the Control of Building Operations (COBO) Act, 1988 has been initiated against all illegal constructions that surfaced during his tenure. Contrary to this assertion, ground realities suggest otherwise. JDA’s action against unauthorised structures is often triggered only after repeated exposure by JK Global News, locals alleged.
However, he expressed ignorance when we questioned about status of action taken against 3 unauthorised buildings including one commercial one behind a petrol pump near Bamboo Jungle eatery, another commercial structure with rolling iron shutter in the same vicinity and third in Nagrota Bazaar near Revenue Training Institute.
Adding to the controversy, residents of Jagti accused the JDA and its enforcement wing of turning a blind eye to active commercial activities inside buildings that, as per official records, stand sealed. “If these structures are sealed, how are shops operating daily?” questioned a local trader.
Revealing the modus operandi, reliable JDA sources cited a commercial complex with five rolling iron shutters near IIT Jagti that was sealed nearly two years ago. “Despite no court relief, commercial activity has quietly resumed this year,” the source said, adding that the incumbent inspector is duty-bound to report such grave violations.
Alarmingly, there is apprehension within the department that the file relating to this sealed structure may have mysteriously gone missing, further deepening suspicions of collusion and administrative decay, added sources.
Preferring anonymity, an official of the JDA, while exhibiting photos of unlawful commercial structures said, “Patronised illegal constructions along the Ring Road in the Bhalwal area have raised serious eyebrows over the hollowness of the tall claims made by the JDA.”
“It remains a deep mystery as to who is minting money in the name of illegal constructions coming up along the Ring Road in Bhalwal,” the sources added.
When contacted, DLM, JDA emphatically said that every illegal constructions in aforesaid areas will face music of law. Whosoever high and mighty, no one will be spared found constructing structures without CLU and building permission. If any sealed structure will resume activities after break opening the seals, FIRs will be registered against them in concerned police stations, added DLM.