Illegal construction of commercial hall by encroaching Yogi Gate Shamshan Ghat was demolished on the direction of then Commissioner JMC Avny Lavassa, under the supervision of Joint Commissioner Ashish Gupta along with police contingent which was raised during the tenure of the then JMC Commissioner Pankaj Magotra
Former Mayor Narinder Singh Raju had lodged FIR before Anti Corruption Bureau vide No.JKACB/Per/02-20 dated 17-8-2020 over illegal construction and encroachment of Yogi Gate Shamshan Ghat but nothing was done in this regard
Sewa Samiti-the custodian of all cremation grounds in Jammu has started construction of shops at Jogi Gate along the roadside thereby raising many eyebrows about commercialization of place of performing last rites. Some influential businessman of the city were behind this estrange move of Sewa Samiti
At a time when government is taking about smart city project for Jammu , wherein the city would have state-of-the-art facilities like parking space, the JMC has allowed a free hand to few influential people to carry on with illegal constructions
Law says that for converting any category of land and building into a commercial one, proper permission has to be taken from competent authority as defined in revenue laws, but in city most of the people are violating set rules. Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat ,old city and Shastri Nagar areas are on top of list where hundreds of violations of conversion of residential houses into commercial buildings have been detected
Previous shops built on Jogi Gate land were sold to individuals under pretext of ‘Pagri,’ with these shops subsequently being falsely categorized as ‘Karayanama’ or rented basis in official records and if the ongoing illegal construction at Jogi Gate is not promptly halted by the administration, these unscrupulous individuals may successfully sell these shops at exorbitant prices, only to deceptively categorize them as ‘Karayanama’ once again
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, sep 17
Jammu Municipal Corporation has failed to initiate any action to stop illegal constructions in the city even as the Corporation has been claimed big that it was acting tough against encroachers and against the illegal constructions in the areas falling under their jurisdiction. Notwithstanding local expressed strong resentment and shock over the failure of JMC to stop these illegal constructions, which galore the city areas at a time when JMC is making tall claims by acting tough against those involved in these illegal constructions. The reality is that the JMC has failed to keep a check on these illegal constructions as they have given a free hand to those who are indulged in the illegal constructions in different areas of the city.
To put the things in perspective, illegal commercial complex at Jogi Gate cremation ground in Prem Nagar which was razed to ground zero on August 13, 2020 is once again ready for slab work in couple of days without permission from JMC by immoral individuals to convert the revered Jogi Gate cremation ground in Prem Nagar, Jammu, into a commercial complex. Moreover former Mayor Narinder Singh Raju had lodged FIR before Anti Corruption Bureau vide No.JKACB/Per/02-20 dated 17-8-2020 over illegal construction and encroachment of Yogi Gate Shamshan Ghat.It deserves mentioning here that on the direction of then Commissioner JMC Avny Lavassa, the enforcement team under the supervision of Joint Commissioner Ashish Gupta along with police contingent had demolished unauthorized structure which was raised during the tenure of the then JMC Commissioner Pankaj Magotra.
The general public had appreciated the bold action of JMC and especially Commissioner Avny Lavasa for sending clear signals to the high and mighty to refrain from venturing into any unauthorized commercial structure which may pose serious problems in future for the general public and in contravention of MPJ-2032. But the present Commissioner JMC has yet again allowed construction of commercial complex near Jogi gate cremation ground despite the fact that no sensible person on earth dare to construct business centre above entrance of cremation ground where citizens visits for bidding adieu their dear ones.
Worthwhile to mention here, that Sewa Samiti-the custodian of all cremation grounds in Jammu has started construction of shops at Jogi Gate along the roadside thereby raising many eyebrows about commercialization of the place of performing last rites.It’s alleged that some influential businessman of the city were behind this estrange move of Sewa Samiti.It is shocking to note that JMC after miserably failed to maintain the cremation grounds in Jammu which is their prime job they are now planning to do business at this place where citizens visits in grief and pain after losing their near and dear ones
JMC and other higher authorities should look and into the matter and stop such illegal contractions within the municipal limits forthwith.“At a time when government is taking about smart city project for Jammu , wherein the city would have state-of-the-art facilities like parking space etc., the JMC has allowed a free hand to few influential people to carry on with the illegal constructions.The campaign launched by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) against illegal construction and commercialization of residential areas in the city has so far turned out to be a sham. Due to the pressure from people having close political connections the illegal transformation is going on with impunity while the enforcement agencies are turning a blind eye towards the unlawful activities.
Despite law passed against such violations, civic bodies in Jammu have failed to stop conversion of residential colonies into commercial spaces, which has led to chaos in many areas in the urban centres. “Law says that for converting any category of land and building into a commercial one, proper permission has to be taken from the competent authority as defined in revenue laws, but in the city most of the people are violating the set rules.The Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat ,old city and Shastri Nagar areas are on the top of the list where hundreds of violations of conversion of residential houses into commercial buildings have been detected. Similar cases could be found in other colonies.
It is pertinent to mention here that previous shops built on the Jogi Gate land were sold to individuals under the pretext of ‘Pagri,’ with these shops subsequently being falsely categorized as ‘Karayanama’ or rented basis in official records.Locals have expressed their fear that if the ongoing illegal construction at Jogi Gate is not promptly halted by the administration, these unscrupulous individuals may successfully sell these shops at exorbitant prices, only to deceptively categorize them as ‘Karayanama’ once again.Locals appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to intervene in this matter and instruct the relevant authorities to take immediate action to halt the ongoing illegal construction at Jogi Gate.
