JAMMU: Restoration of demolished commercial structure adjoining V mart mall in Kacchi Chawni as per earlier specifications has raised question mark on the functioning of enforcement wing of Jammu Municipal Corporation which is again in limelight for alarming rise in illegal constructions for past three months at Sidhara, several parts of old city, Gangyal, Gadigarh etc.
Referring to illegal constructions, our reliable sources in JMC said “The situation is back to square one within 4 months which clearly shows that incumbent Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) has lowered guards against willful violators.”
Pertinent to mentioned that the then JMC Joint Commissioner (A), Ashish Gupta taking cognizance of violation has demolished the disputed portion of this structure in Kacchi Chawni during midnight operation on June 15th, 2020.
It was again demolished by JMC in the month of October, 2020 when stubborn owner while bragging of proximity with judicial officers and higher ups in ACB besides JMC Commissioner reconstruct the building allegedly in violation of Tribunal order. “The Tribunal allowed construction of slab at height of 17 feet sans any additional floor inside it” revealed JMC sources.
In past this structure was demolished twice and the silence of JMC enforcement wing especially incumbent Joint Commissioner, Hitesh Gupta and Enforcement Officer Sunil Gupta clearly shows either the duo were under obligation or the previous officers of JMC who demolished this structure twice were fools, alleged a shopkeeper of the area on condition of anonymity.
Further questioning the helplessness of JMC against the violator of this building, another shopkeeper said “Not only this structure but all the three adjoining commercial establishments are actively engaged in raising height of their buildings by employing hydraulic jack technique. This is mainly done to carve out additional floor for sake of accommodating another shop inside it”
Majority of violators in old city these days are using hydraulic jack techniques to carve out additional floor inside their commercial properties without being noticed by the activists and vigilant citizens, indeed in collision with JMC staff, added another shopkeeper of Kacchi Chawni.
Insiders in JMC revealed that the slab work of demolished structure was done October 10 in flagrant violation of Tribunal order which clearly states that slab of the building in question will not exceed its height beyond 17 feet from ground floor. However, the building on ground have two slab, one at height of 10 feet and another at height of 17 feet from ground floor.
“Even, if the Tribunal Court allowed construction of additional slab at height of 17 feet without demolition old slab, the JMC must appeal against the order in High Court realizing that the owner evidently carved out four shops two each at ground and first floor merely by raising height of single existing shop by making mockery of JMC authorities and its BOCA laws” said an officer of JMC preferring anonymity.
If the slab work for third time is strictly done as per the Tribunal order, then the higher ups in JMC as well as Housing and Urban Development Department needs to enforce accountability among those paid and engaged for fighting their legal positions in court of law. After all, the tribunal order is not a gospel from Bible which cannot be challenged, added sources.
On condition of anonymity, an official of enforcement wing said “There is nothing wrong from our side as the re-construction of demolition portion was allowed as per the “approval” from Commissioner. Efforts to seek view of JMC Commissioner, Avny Lavassa on the issue couldn’t materialize owing to her per-occupation.