Bandipora: Despite ban on construction on agriculture land, large number of illegal structures including complexes, concrete walls, residential houses have came up on agriculture across North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
In order to prevent vandalizing of agriculture land, authorities recently banned construction work on Agriculture land, but there seems to be no let up in the construction of structures and residential houses have come up on it.
The illegal structures had come up on agricultural land and in violations of Land Revenue Act and Jammu and Kashmir High Court directions.
Sources said that over dozens illegal structures had come up in Tehsil Bandipora from past few months, department in deep slumber.
Large paddy fields separating the town from the nearby villages are now the sites of multi- storied commercial Complexes, Shopping malls and other residential Colonies.
The locals alleged a nexus between concerned authorities and violators.
The residents of these areas said that despite Revenue and Roads and Buildings department frequently visiting these areas, illegal constructions are going on unabated in the district for the reasons better known to officials at helm of affairs.
The locals of several areas alleged that the authorities have demolished the structures of only common people while as the influential persons were given a free run. “Whenever anyone raises a tin shed, the authorities demolish it but the huge residential houses and concrete wall are being constructed but no one touches them”, said a local.
Dozens of new shopping complexes, commercial buildings have come up in different parts of the district in violation to the rules.
According to Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey report , the estimated contribution of agriculture to State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) has fallen from 28% in 2004-05 to 17%. The shortfall in food grains, which was 32% in 1950-51, is now 82 %.
The High Court (HC) has earlier pulled up the State government several times and directed the authorities to ensure that no conversion of agricultural land is allowed for commercial, residential and industrial purposes.
However figures reveal that authorities have miserably failed to follow the directions of the court.
