JAMMU : Unauthorized constructions which are flourishing by leaps and bounds have allegedly turned into a money minting shop for a section of employees in Jammu Development Authority (JDA) resulting into haphazard growth of buildings in utter violation of Jammu Master Plan besides inflicting potential revenue loss in the shape of building permission fees.
This situation has assumed such an alarming proportion that despite the honest intentions of incumbent VC JDA as well as DLM to curb long prevailing corrupt practices in the organization by implementing various transparency measures, allegations have come flying thick and fast against some enforcement inspectors for collecting money on the name of their superiors for dropping BOCA action against illegal constructions.
There are brisk unauthorized commercial construction activities underway in JDA’s jurisdiction at Birpur, Vijaypur, Bari Brahmna, Samba, Bishnah, R.S.Pura, Jagti, Nagrota and Gole Gujjaral. The Khilafwarzi inspectors namely Rajinder Singh Choudhary, Rajinder Kumar, Naresh Sharma and Madan regularly visited areas in their allotted zones but miserably failed to check unauthorized construction for reasons best known to them, said one Patwari of JDA on condition of anonymity.
Without failure, the enforcement inspectors keep visiting their assigned areas and its strange to see a willful violators manage to complete construction of building without permission right under the nose of khilafwarzi inspectors, added another Patwari.
Further sharing details, another Patwari said “Besides, reporting encroachment of JDA land, the job of Khilafwarzi Inspector is to report establishment of illegal colonies and unauthorized constructions right at the foundation stage and entire process for action under BOCA laws need to be completed within 15 days”.
Despite getting salary and ruthless use of official vehicles, if the enforcement inspectors fail to check and report illegal constructions besides illegal colonies at the initial stage there is indeed something fishy, said an officer of JDA, preferring anonymity. There are enough evidences to proceed against them and declared them as deadwood, added one Naib Tehsildar of JDA.
The ACB must seized all the files pertaining to reporting and issuance of notice under BOCA pertaining to illegal constructions as well as verify the unauthorized constructions with google earth to unearth shoddy working of ground staff. In addition, the government also verify properties details of khilafwarzi inspectors posted in Vijaypur, Samba, Birpur, Bari Brahmna, R.S.Pura, Bishnah, Phallian Mandal and Gole Gujjaral and initiate removal of corrupt officials of JDA as deadwood.
Indeed, there is a nexus of officials which breeds corruption and they have earned an expertise in intriguing against those who dare to go against their evil designs, said an insider, adding “Last year, acting on a complaint when a Tehsildar sealed one under construction unauthorized building at Channi Rama in JDA jurisdiction, the violator openly blurted field functionary accepted Rs 2 lakhs on the name of their superiors for carrying construction without any interference”. Shell shocked, the officer raised this matter with VC to ascertain as to who accepted the amount using the officer name”, added another Patwari of JDA on condition of anonymity.
Not only this, even there are allegations that one official white scorpio of JDA used to visit locations in Bishnah, Chowadhi, R.S.Pura, Gole Gujjarl, Vijaypur, Baribrahmna etc on collection spree on the name of their superiors from those pursuing illegal constructions.
This is the main reason that most of the KAS cadre officers now refrain from being posting in JDA. Currently, three posts of supervisory officers (Tehsildars) are lying vacant in JDA which has given a field day to the enforcement inspectors who are hibernating with a design to remain silent on massive mess of unauthorized constructions.
Expressing astonishment at free for all operations of illegal constructions in JDA’s jurisdiction, renowned anti corruption crusader, Prof SK Bhalla said “Why ACB and JDA hugherups are silent on large scale unauthorized constructions at Birpur, Chowadhi, Phallian Mandal, Vijaypur and R.S.Pura ?”. This speaks volume about the foul modus operandi of aforesaid in curbing the visible corruption in JDA, added Prof. Bhalla.
For a matter of fact, the field staff reported 6 commercial structures which are under construction without approved permission in Jagti area but except file work no concrete action under BOCA law initiated against the wilful violators, avers insiders in JDA.
Worst, one enforcement inspector namely Naresh Sharma prefers to remain silent on constructions of structures on encroached JDA land alongside the nallah in Qasim Nagar, New Bahu Fort colony, Jammu. The locals of the area alleged that the sale of encroached land and subsequent construction on it is flourishing with connivance of concerned enforcement inspector.
When contacted, VC JDA, Pankaj Magotra, said “We are fully aware of every illegal construction as well encroachment of JDA land and action will be initiated as per law”.