JAMMU: Following startling revelations which came to fore through RTI on high profile illegal construction of a former Deputy CM, Prof. Nirmal Singh’s bungalow at Panjagarian last year, the area around Jagti have witnessed unprecedented rise in unauthorized commercial constructions which raises question mark on deeds and action of Jammu Development Authority(JDA).
Giving details of unauthorized constructions undertaken by willful violators in Nagrota, Panjgarian, Ban and Jagti, an official of BOCA team on condition of anonymity said “Post reply by Public Information Officer (PIO) to RTI applicant Advocate Muzaffar Ali Shah in September 2021 on Prof. Singh’s bungalow, the enforcement wing have reported 15 major violations for action under BOCA Act, 1988 against unauthorized constructions”.
The BOCA team in Zone A/B is comprised of Saqib (JE), Balwinder Singh (Patwari), Sanjeev Phull (Khilafarzi Inspector) and Sansar Chand (Surveyor).
These illegal constructions were also noticed by Vice-Chairman JDA, Pankaj Magotra who toured the area twice along with concerned Tehsildar after assuming charge of VC office, he added.
These mushrooming illegal constructions is a deep rooted corruption nexus between properties dealers, violators and a section of JDA employees which if probed by Anti Corruption Bureau will creates ripples in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, asserted an insider in JDA.
Laconically, the scrutiny of BOCA files will only unveil stinking affairs prevailing in JDA, asserted an officer on condition of anonymity. No unauthorized construction is possible without an act of corruption, he added.
Stating that as per BOCA laws, the process of initiating action against unauthorized constructions from issuance of notices to sealing or demolition have to be completed within stipulated time period of 15 days, an official of enforcement wing of JDA told JK Global News “We are “baselessly” blamed for shielding large scale illegal constructions for pecuniary considerations”.
In reality, illegal constructions in these areas were “reported” to BOCA teams as well as authorities at initial stage. Sadly, instead of initiating action they prefer to sleep over files for years paving way for violators to start activities in unauthorized structures after competing construction work, he alleged.
This abnormal practice is fervently followed by authorities in JDA as it only serves the ulterior motives of willful violators in Jagti and Panjgarian whose land titles are controversial and thus can’t qualify for securing permission as per JMP-2032, alleged an official of JDA.
Revealing modus operandi that encourages unauthorized constructions at alarming level in Nagrota and Jagti, the sources avers “The friendly approach of JDA against willful violators can be understood from the fact the final notice u/s 7(3) of COBA, 1988 was issued to Prof. Singh on November 8th, 2021 when the violator start residing inside the residential structure.
Pertinently, as per record Prof. Singh commenced construction without approved plan in November, 2017 whereas, this local area included in Jammu Master Plan-2032 vide SRO 90, dated 03/3/2017. Exposed over Singh’s illegal constructions, the red faced authorities in JDA issued final notice of demolition after 4 years.
Interestingly, the PIO in reply to Shah’s RTI application in September 2021 says “From January 2016 to December 2020, the Khilafwarzi team of JDA reported 2 illegal constructions in Panjgarian and Jagti including a major violation involving construction of a palatial Prof. Singh’s bungalow in Panjgarian”.
This means the constructions which are currently pursued by violators are fresh and exposed the match fixing between the officials of BOCA team and violators, alleged an officer of JDA on condition of anonymity.
Demanding a probe from Anti Corruption Bureau into the working pattern of BOCA teams which were constituted to check and initiate action against illegal constructions at initial stage, the insiders in JDA alleged “BOCA teams have defeated due process of law besides causing willful loss worth crores which JDA can earn as building fees charges”.
When contacted Tehsildar JDA (Zone A/B), Ranjeet Singh said that JDA has prepared action plan against these identified illegal structures where construction is going on without approved site plan in Jagti and surrounding area. Only nod from VC JDA is awaited, added Singh.