PDA raises alarm over 300 illegal constructions in Pahalgam, issues notices
Anantnag, Jan 25: The Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) has raised serious concerns over the rampant illegal constructions in the eco-sensitive zones of the famed tourist destination, Pahalgam.
In a letter to the Union Territory government, the PDA has sought immediate intervention to halt these violations, which threaten to damage the fragile ecology of the region.
An official revealed that nearly 300 illegal structures including huge hotels, guest-houses and huts have sprung up across areas within the jurisdiction development authority.
These include those in main Pahalgam and nearby villages such as Ganshibal, Sarabal, Langanbal, Lidroo, Batkoot, Gujrani- Batikoot, Mawoora, Yanner, Srechan, Ganeshpora, Jaibal, Aamad- Wagad, Veersaran, Hardi- Kichroo, Khilan etc.
He said that huge constructions are also coming up in eco-sensitive areas –like Ladi and Dehwatoo which are outside PDA’s ambit.
"If these constructions continue unchecked, they will cause significant harm to the environment and waste decades of conservation efforts by locals," the official warned.
The PDA has issued notices to violators, demanding an immediate halt to the ongoing illegal constructions.
CEO PDA, Masrat Hashim, told Greater Kashmir, "We have written to the government and issued stop-construction notices to violators. Strict action will follow against those flouting the rules, even if the structures are in non-green zones but lack valid permissions."
The violations also extend to hotels, guesthouses , huts and other commercial establishments, which have expanded their premises without adhering to building norms set by the Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA). Pahalgam’s ecological sensitivity has long been a matter of legal and public concern. In 2010, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by locals, banned all new commercial and residential constructions, including repairs. It also directed authorities to draft a master plan prioritizing environmental protection.
The initial Master Plan 2025, framed in 2005, was riddled with flaws that facilitated unchecked construction of hotels, huts, and guest houses in green zones, severely impacting the area's ecology.
In 2015, the Town Planning Organization introduced a revised Master Plan 2032, claiming it would prevent further ecological degradation.
Few years later the locals again exposed few discrepancies, including the controversial designation of environmentally sensitive zones around the Liddder valley golf course as permissible for commercial construction. Despite the revised Master Plan 2032 was finalized in 2022.Locals now remain apprehensive about the ongoing construction boom, which they believe undermines their years-long legal battle to save Pahalgam’s environment. "We hope the authorities act before it’s too late," one resident said. They however, hailed the decisive actions of PDA’s new CEO, Masrat Hashim, and hoped for strict enforcement to safeguard fragile environs