Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: The State Vigilance Commission has expressed serious concern over the illegal encroachments on National Highway and sought report from Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) in connection with illegal construction of three storeyed shopping complex near Berwin Bridge, Udhampur without building permission.
During enquiry by the Commission, it was revealed that the shopping complex has been constructed in violation of The J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976, The Ribbon Development Act, 2007 and The Electricity Act.
Official sources said besides the building was allowed to be constructed by the authorities till it was raised up to three storeys and no action seems to have taken against the violator till it got almost complete by utter misuse of officials powers by the concerned officers.
The complaint was received by the Commission in the year 2013 and notices were issued to all the concerned Departments to explain the inaction on their part and also to take necessary action under various laws and rules against the defaulters for allowing the impugned construction.
After the notices were issued by the Commission and one of the Government Departments issued demolition notice for the illegal structure, the violator approached The J&K Special Tribunal, where member Tribunal Tushar K Sharma set aside the demolition notice on 29-09-2015, with the direction that till actions are initiated/taken against other similar defaulters, the building of the applicant may not be demolished.
In view of the order passed by The J&K Special Tribunal, the concerned Government authorities expressed their inability to discharge their legitimate duties quo demolition of illegal shopping complex till all other illegal structures everywhere are not demolished.
The SVC while considering the case of public concern deemed it proper to call a report from Assistant Commissioner Development, Udhampur, asking him as to why any action had not been taken when the illegal shopping complex was being raised and it reached up to three storey sans any permission from the concerned authorities and Departments. He was also asked to identify the public servants who were posted in the area during period the illegal construction was raised.
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