Anantnag admin cracks down on illegal constructions along Bijbehara-Pahalgam road
Anantnag, Feb 13: In a stringent move against unauthorised constructions, Anantnag district administration has demolished several illegal structures in villages along Bijbehara-Pahalgam road.
"We have taken down a few structures that were built without proper authorisation in the adjoining villages of Pahalgam," Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pahalgam Shurjeel Ali told Greater Kashmir.
He said at least thirty structures have been sealed, and several others have received notices. "While some structures had no permission, others violated building regulations, prompting action," the SDM said. He urged people to obtain proper permissions and adhere to building guidelines. "The crackdown on violators will continue in the coming days," he said.
SDM said that they will also collaborate with the Forest and Wildlife Department to identify violations The drive, besides Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pahalgam, is overseen by Tehsildars, Block Development Officers (BDO) and local police.
Several structures including hotels, guest houses, and huts have been erected along the Bijbehara-Pahalgam road in Dachnipora area villages such as Ladi, Shaliberan, Dehwatoo, Charigam, Overa, Paran , Kullar etc.
These areas fall outside the jurisdiction of the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) and are located along the banks of the Lidder River, within forest, buffer or wildlife zones.
In 2021, the High Court directed the administration to halt all illegal constructions in these regions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Himalayan Welfare Organization, which sought the preservation of Pahalgam’s adjoining areas.
The court had earlier addressed a PIL filed by locals in 2010, challenging the flawed master plan and advocating for the protection of Pahalgam.
Following the court's directives, the Town Planning Organization in 2015 revised the Pahalgam Master Plan-2032, including 13 additional villages under the PDA's jurisdiction. However, several villages were still left out, raising concerns among environmentalists and local stakeholders. Environmentalists and experts have recommended incorporating these villages into the PDA's jurisdiction to safeguard the region's fragile ecosystem.
