Unlawful constructioNS and colonies flourishED under operation quid pro quo. This is a grave situation, which, if it persists in contravention of regulatory laws, will push upcoming semi-urban areas into chaos. These are serious lapses, and absence of accountability for the same only shows existence of a well-organized nexus of corruption, says Prof. S.K. Bhalla.
Miserably failed to act timely as per rule book against constructions that are audaciously mushrooming sans approved building plan and land use change permission; the ground staff of enforcement wing in Jammu Development Authority are apparently working against the the spirit of Jammu Master Plan-2032, resulting in large-scale unplanned development of several habitats in contravention of zonal regulations.
Residents of Jagti and Karnail Chak have accused Enforcement Wing of allegedly colluding with willful violators. They state, “The JDA promptly swing into action against helpless citizens for minor constructions, while it turns a blind eye towards commercial structures built by influential people without CLU and building permissions.” Prolong lackadaisical approach of enforcement wing against visible violations has become an instrument of encouragement for willful violators, they added.
Accusing JDA of alleged selective action, another resident told JK Global News that a few years ago he was not allowed to construct a shop, as the land fell in a green zone. But later on, entire stretch from IIT up to IIM at Jagti, which was categorized as a green zone under Jammu Master Plan-2032, was allowed to transform into a hub of commercial buildings, which were constructed without CLU and building permission.
The way commercial constructions were allowed one after another without building and CLU permission itself exposed startling gaps in working of the JDA enforcement wing, alleged a resident of Nagrota. The JDA chose to seal only my under-construction while deferring sealing of more than a dozen illegal commercial buildings that were constructed illegally under the nose of JDA officers, he further alleged.
Referring to ongoing illegal constructions at Jagti, where owner of one influential restaurant managed to raise an illegal structure behind Zamindara Dhaba, locals of the area say, “Starting from plinth up to slab level, a normal structure consumes one month, whereas action against illegitimate building under COBO Act, 1988, viz., issuance of notices to sealing, the enforcement wing has to complete entire exercise within 15 days.” Enforcement Inspector Rahil Sharma is aware of every illegal construction undertaken by violators in Nagrota area, they added.
In a similar manner at Karnail Chak, where Patwari Mumtaz Bano has been deployed as in-charge Enforcement Inspector, a massive illegal commercial structure is being constructed by a violator.
Ongoing regulatory failures have placed JDA under the spotlight, with widespread unauthorized constructions emerging in Jagti, Ban, Nagrota, Bajalta, Karnail Chak, Birpur, Chowadhi, Bishnah, and beyond. This brazen failure of ground staff has caused enormous loss to the state exchequer in several crores, which warrants intense scrutiny of enforcement wing’s working, reveals one officer of JDA.
Reacting to massive media exposure and the ACB’s advisory on rampant illegal constructions patronized in JDA’s jurisdiction, recently, incumbent VC JDA, Rupesh Kumar, entrusted duties of Enforcement Inspectors to nine deputed Patwaris and Girdawars of revenue department by divesting all existing employees of JDA of enforcement responsibilities. However, large-scale fresh illegal constructions only prove that this extraordinary exercise of VC has only turned into an element of encouragement for willful violators.
Vice-Chairman, JDA, Rupesh Kumar, despite repeated efforts, as usual, remained elusive on the issue, whereas DLM, on the issue, said, “We have sealed the illegal structure being constructed behind existing Zamindara Dhaba. The process for sealing under-construction commercial complex in Karnail Chak has been initiated.” Further clarifying, unstoppable illegal constructions in Jagti, he said, “The team led by Tehsildar Rashi Dutta has taken a round of Jagti-Ban area has identified several unlawful constructions, which were issued notices. Failure to comply with notices will also invite sealing of these structures, he added.