Unauthorized constructions going on in Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27, Gurha Bakshi Nagar, Ward 28 (B) with consent and support of Enforcement staff deputed in these wards

JMC unmoved towards unauthorized construction by Suresh Gupta, owner of SS Trader near House No. 227 Opposite New Karan Hotel Lane, Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27, new shutter fitted after removing window and first floor renovation work and 2nd floor new construction in Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27 by Cyber Café without JMC permission
JMC facilitating multi-story commercial structure by dismantling existing Vimal Public School building clubbing three residential plots in Ward-27, Bakshi Nagar by owner Prem Gupta openly making land use change in residential colony popularly known as Govt Refugee Colony openly and brazenly under nose of JMC authorities much to the disappointment and agony of aggrieved locals
JMC fails to understand that constructions made in violation of the relevant laws, master plan or zonal development plan or sanctioned building plan or the building is used for a purpose other than the one specified in the relevant statute or the master plan etc, put unbearable burden on the public facilities/amenities like water, electricity, sewerage etc apart from creating chaos on the roads
Though, the competent legislatures have, from time to time, enacted laws for ensuring planned development of the cities and urban areas, enforcement has been extremely poor and influential people have violated the master plans, zoning plans and building regulations and by-laws with impunity
Most of modern day constructions within Jammu Municipal areas don’t constructions abide by existing laws, however, leading to adverse consequences on governance systems, the environment, people’s health, transportation services, and overall citizen well-being.
As and when the courts have passed orders or the officers of local and other bodies have taken action for ensuring rigorous compliance of laws relating to planned development of the cities and urban areas and issued directions for demolition of the illegal/unauthorized constructions, but JMC higher-ups have come forward to protect the wrong doers either by issuing administrative orders or enacting laws for regularization of illegal and unauthorized constructions in the name of compassion and hardship. Such actions have done irreparable harm to the concept of planned development of the cities and urban areas
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, oct 13
There is no dearth of rules, by-laws, and statutory provisions that govern the conduct of construction activities in Jammu Municipal areas. However, illegal construction continues to thrive. Economically affluent people and those enjoying support of the political and executive apparatus of the state have constructed buildings, commercial complexes, multiplexes, malls etc in blatant violation of the municipal and town planning laws, master plans, zonal development plans and even the sanctioned building plans. In most of the cases of illegal or unauthorized constructions, the officers of the municipal and other regulatory bodies turn blind eye either due to the influence of higher functionaries of the state or other extraneous reasons.
To put the things in perspective, hundreds of unauthorized constructions going in Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27, Gurha Bakshi Nagar, Ward 28 (B) wherein building materials lying on main roads for many days causing public nuisance and traffic congestion and jams but the concerned enforcement staff deputed in area particularly Enforcement Inspector Sanjay Gandotra deputed in Ward 27 and Ward-28 is acting as super human and is least bothered to report violations to higher-ups in JMC who rarely come out of their offices to act on complaints and grievances and also don’t cross-check reports of enforcement staff after getting unfair money from violators including unauthorized construction by one Suresh Gupta, owner of S. S. Trader, near House No. 227 Opp. New Karan Hotel Lane, Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27, new shutter fitted after removing window and first floor renovation work and 2nd floor new construction in Bakshi Nagar, Ward 27 by Cyber Café near Girls Higher Secondary School Bakshi Nagar JAMMU without getting permission from JMC and maintaining mandatory setbacks. Likewise JMC also facilitating multi-story commercial structure by dismantling existing Vimal Public School building clubbing three residential plots in Ward-27, Bakshi Nagar despite strong resentment by locals. Owner Prem Gupta after completing construction of commercial basement after excessive digging developing cracks in nearby residential houses without maintaining setbacks and covering hundred percent plot area now raising RCC Pillars to construct multi-story commercial structure making land use change from residential to commercial. Owner openly making land use change in residential colony popularly known as Govt Refugee Colony openly and brazenly under nose of JMC authorities much to the disappointment and agony of aggrieved locals but so far no BOCA notices served to owner despite matter thoroughly projected before JMC higher-ups. It is strange that despite bringing these serious nature violations into kind notice of enforcement staff and even Commissioner JMC and Secretary JMC, nothing was done in this regard as they are not ready to listen aggrieved people after getting paid handsomely by violators at the cost of JMP-2032 and Unified Building Bye-laws 2021.
Social and RTI Activists are of the view that actions of enforcement staff to ride over judicial orders on illegal constructions have done irreparable damage to the concept of planned development. though, the competent legislatures have, from time to time, enacted laws for ensuring planned development of the cities and urban areas, enforcement has been extremely poor and the people have violated the master plans, zoning plans and building regulations and by-laws with impunity. The people belonging to this class do not realize that the constructions made in violation of the relevant laws, master plan or zonal development plan or sanctioned building plan or the building is used for a purpose other than the one specified in the relevant statute or the master plan etc, put unbearable burden on the public facilities/amenities like water, electricity, sewerage etc apart from creating chaos on the roads.
Jammu City’s rising urbanization in recent years has triggered unbridled construction activities to meet the needs of the growing populations in these cities. Not all of these constructions abide by existing laws, however, leading to adverse consequences on governance systems, the environment, people’s health, transportation services, and overall citizen well-being. In extreme cases, illegal constructions have resulted in loss of lives and property. In wake of mushrooming illegal constructions, Govt of the day should stop giving support to builders and companies to check the chaotic situation across the country.
It is high time that Govt take serious view of the menace of illegal and unauthorized constructions and stop their support to the lobbies of affluent class of builders and others, else even the rural areas will soon witness similar chaotic conditions. As and when the courts have passed orders or the officers of local and other bodies have taken action for ensuring rigorous compliance of laws relating to planned development of the cities and urban areas and issued directions for demolition of the illegal/unauthorized constructions, but JMC higher-ups have come forward to protect the wrong doers either by issuing administrative orders or enacting laws for regularization of illegal and unauthorized constructions in the name of compassion and hardship. Such actions have done irreparable harm to the concept of planned development of the cities and urban areas.