JMC fails to stop ongoing construction of three unauthorized shops at bifurcated residential plot 29-C Shastri Nagar Housing Board Colony Ward-23 without approval of site plan from JMC despite letter by Dy General Manager Housing Board Unit-II, Jammu dated 18-10-2024 to Joint Commissioner ,JMC to stop ongoing unauthorized construction of three shops after lapse of residential approved site plan dated 26-11-2018 making land use change from residential to commercial

The owner got approved residential site plan for double stories from JMC vide No. 481/JMC/BS/2018 dated 26-11-2018 against application No. 6153 dated 6-1-2017 and as per approved site plan, the owner was allowed 45% construction and also duty bound to maintain mandatory setbacks including front side 6 mtr, rear 3 mtr, sides -1st, 3 mtr and side-2nd , 2 mtr as per JMP-2032 but owner before starting construction bifurcated residential plot into two parts and raised two story residential house adjoining with residential house 30-C without maintaining setbacks and kept open 2nd part of bifurcated plot towards main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board Colony thus completely deviating from approved site plan.
JMC did not take requisite action against construction of three unauthorized shops covering hundred percent area of bifurcated plot measuring 2700 Sqfts despite Dy General Manager, Housing Unit-II, Shastri Nagar Jammu through a letter informed Joint Commissioner JMC dated 18-10-2024 that three year validity of approved site plan granted by JMC dated 26-11-2018 had already lapsed as the owner started construction of unauthorized three shops after nearly six years of getting site plan dated 26-11-2018 demanding action against owner as per Uniform Policy of J&K Housing Board.
When concerned Enforcement staff was questioned regarding ongoing construction of three unauthorized shops without JMC permission and too making land use change, they categorically said the ongoing work of three shops has been stopped and that they demolish ongoing construction but in reality few bricks were uprooted that too of boundary wall towards front side of main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board colony but the internal RCC pillars were not touched and as a result of which the construction is going on as on date
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, oct 21
One KK Lakhanpal s/o Amarnath Lakhan owner of residential corner plot No. 29-C measuring 60×90 (5400 Sqft ) Shastri Nagar Jammu Ward-23 allotted by J&K Housing Board Authority Green Belt Park Jammu near Shastri Nagar cremation ground having front road measuring 15ft and side road is 60 ft which is main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board Colony . The owner got approved residential site plan with double stories from JMC vide No. 481/JMC/BS/2018 dated 26-11-2018 which was valid for three years against application No. 6153 dated 6-1-2017. As per approved site plan, the owner was allowed 45% construction and also duty bound to maintain mandatory setbacks including front side 6 mtr, rear 3 mtr, sides -1st 3 mtr and side-2nd , 2 mtr as per JMP-2032 but owner before starting construction bifurcated residential plot into two parts and raised two story residential house adjoining with residential house 30-C and kept open 2nd part of bifurcated plot towards main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board Colony thus completely deviating from approved site plan.
But the owner having vested intentions before starting construction as per approved site plan first of all bifurcated his residential corner plot into two equal parts. The owner raised double story residential house covering 30×90 (2700 Sqft) on part of bifurcated part facing front towards residential house 30-C without observing setbacks and after completion started residing in double story residential house. The owner in the month of March 2024 after six years of getting residential site plan approved from JMC started construction of three big size shops on RCC Pillars on 2nd part of bifurcated plot covering 100% plot area without maintaining setbacks keeping front towards main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board colony measuring 60 ft without JMC permission and also without obtaining valid permission from Housing Board but JMC didn’t take any action against owner for raising violated construction.
It deserves mentioning here that Secretary J&K Housing Board Jammu wrote a letter to Deputy General Manager ,Housing Unit-II ,Shastri Nagar Jammu vide No. HB/Secy/5008-09 dated 14-10-2024 over illegal sale of J&K Housing Board Plot No. 29-C at Shastri Nagar Jammu in reference to a letter addressed to Secretary by Deputy General Manager vide letter No. HU/ii/123 dated 23-4-2024 and the e-office physical status report of plot in reference received by Secretary Housing Board Jammu on 24-9-2024. The Secretary in this letter was directed to request Deputy General Manager to take necessary action against owner in collaboration with JMC.
Accordingly taking cognizance of Secretary letter, Deputy General Manager Housing Board Unit-II wrote a letter to Joint Commissioner, JMC vide No. HU/ii/2452-53 dated 18-10-2024 over illegal sale of residential plot 29-C, Shastri Nagar Jammu narrating that one Lakhanpal has raised a double story residential structure and at present finishing work is going on. The letter further informed that the construction work of three shops has also been started on front side of bifurcated plot 2nd part main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board colony. The letter maintained that the
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field staff of JMC visited the site and stopped work on 4-5-2024 but the construction work didn’t stop practically and the construction work is going on in the said bifurcated plot. Dy General Manager further informed in the letter that three year validity of approved site plan granted by JMC dated 26-11-2018 had already lapsed as the owner started construction of unauthorized three shops after nearly six years of getting site plan dated 26-11-2018. Dy General Manager requested JMC to take action against owner as per Uniform Policy of J&K Housing Board.
Worthwhile to mention here that aggrieved locals approached management of this newspaper along with pictures and videos indicating ongoing construction on RCC Pillars. As a result of which our team on 21-10-2024 visited the site and found that construction was going on. When we ask concerned Enforcement staff regarding ongoing construction of three unauthorized shops without JMC permission and also when site plan of bifurcated site plan making land use change can’t be approved by JMC, they categorically said the ongoing work of three shops has been stopped and that they demolish ongoing construction but in reality few bricks were uprooted that too of boundary wall towards front side of main road of Shastri Nagar Housing Board colony but the internal RCC pillars were not touched and as a result of which the construction is going on as on date .
In light of above , Commissioner JMC should take the matter urgently and immediately visit the site as right now the construction of three unauthorized shops is at initial stage and if action is delayed the credibility of JMC will be further damaged as right now the faith of JMC is getting shattered among Municipality residents due to nepotism and favourtism of enforcement staff who takes action on pick and choose basis and in no case takes any action against those who pay them for allowing violated constructions irrespective of nature of violated constructions even if completely against JMP-2032 and Unified Building Bye-laws 2021. At the same time Dy Commissioner South should also start delivering professional duties with lot more sincerity failing which if the long rope being given by him to field staff for ignoring violated constructions, the enforcement staff will prove fatal for residents of Municipal areas and in near future no future Master plan will be executive.