Farhat Naik||
RAJOURI, JULY 13: In a decisive action to safeguard waterbodies and enforce building and revenue laws, the District Administration Rajouri has ordered the immediate stoppage of construction being carried out on land falling under Khasra No. 124, Village Rampur, near Bella Bus Stand/Bella Nallah, Rajouri, following prima facie findings of unauthorised commercial construction and suspected manipulation of revenue records.
The action follows complaints regarding construction activity at the site and an enquiry conducted by the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Rajouri, along with a report submitted by the Executive Officer, Municipal Council Rajouri.
The preliminary examination has revealed that the land was originally recorded in the revenue records as “Gair Mumkin Rohar”, indicating its character as a waterbody or natural drainage channel. Subsequently, the kind of soil came to be reflected as “Mang Nehri”, the legality and circumstances of which have been brought under detailed examination.
The enquiry has further revealed that while four building permissions had been issued during 2023, the construction being undertaken at the site was found, prima facie, to be in excess of and in deviation from the sanctioned building plans, indicating an attempt to develop unauthorised commercial structures.
Taking serious cognisance of the matter, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma (IAS), has directed the Executive Officer, Municipal Council Rajouri, to ensure the immediate and complete stoppage of all construction activities at the site. No masonry work, shuttering, concreting, roofing, excavation, earth filling, installation of shutters, transportation of construction material or any other building operation shall be permitted until further orders.
The Executive Officer has also been instructed to strictly enforce the stop-work notice already issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Control of Building Operations Act, 1988, and, wherever required, seal the unauthorised construction in accordance with law.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri has been directed to provide adequate police assistance to ensure effective enforcement of the orders, prevent the entry of construction material, remove labour from the site wherever necessary and maintain law and order during enforcement proceedings.
The Tehsildar, Rajouri has been instructed to personally inspect the site along with the concerned revenue officials, maintain status quo regarding the physical character and boundaries of the land, prevent any further reclamation, excavation or alteration, prepare a detailed inspection report supported with geo-tagged photographs and videography, and deploy field staff for continuous monitoring.
The Deputy Commissioner has further ordered the immediate preservation of all original revenue records relating to Khasra No. 124, including the Record of Rights, Jamabandis, Khasra Girdawaris, mutation registers, Musavi, Latha, Tatima Shajras, field books, revenue NOCs and other connected records. No alteration, mutation, correction, digitisation change, attestation or fresh revenue certification concerning the land shall be made without the prior written permission of the Deputy Commissioner.
The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that the District Administration follows a policy of zero tolerance towards illegal conversion of waterbodies, manipulation of revenue records and unauthorised commercial construction.
He stated that any attempt to alter the character of a waterbody or natural drainage area for commercial exploitation in violation of law would be dealt with firmly, and accountability would be fixed not only upon the beneficiaries but also upon any official found responsible for negligence, misconduct or collusion.
The Deputy Commissioner further emphasised that proprietary ownership of land does not confer any right to alter its legally recorded character or undertake construction in violation of the provisions of revenue, municipal and building control laws.
He also warned that any continuation of construction despite the issuance of the order would invite strict legal action, and responsibility would be fixed upon the concerned officers and individuals.
The timely intervention by the District Administration has prevented further construction at the site and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting waterbodies, natural drainage channels, public resources and environmentally sensitive areas from illegal encroachment and commercial exploitation.
