Ajay Sharma
Reasi, January 29
Despite tall claims of the administration of putting an end to encroachments, an alleged negligence on the part the part of local concerned authorities and of course of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Reasi has resulted into large scale encroachment along the road sides on Bhambla-Pouni road.
According to sources, despite growing concerns over unabated constructions and in some case encroachments, the officials have failed to take necessary action in such violations.
“Of particular concern is the emergence of new shops in Bhambla, situated dangerously close to the road,” said sources, adding that this has raised questions about the effectiveness of measures to prevent illegal construction in the area. For carrying any sort of construction alongside the road, one has to take a proper permission from the revenue authority for change in land use in case of any commercial activity and a plan approval from the concerned BDO after obtaining a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Border Road Organization if the prescribed distance from the centre of the road is not maintained. .
Despite the requisition of online No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the competent authority, concrete structures continue to mushroom along the roadside unchecked.
Meanwhile locals in the area alleged that there appears some nexus between encroachers and BRO officials, who have turned blind eye towards this encroachment.
“Even when the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and Central government are putting all efforts to maintain transparency, some officials of BRO are showing extreme callousness in their duty,” said locals adding that the fact of any nexus between the two cannot be condoned.
They further requested the Lieutenant Governor to constitute a team to investigate the matter, especially mushrooming of shops along Bhambla-Pouni road, Bhambla-Jammu road and Bhambla-Reasi road.
When tried to contact BRO officials, they were unavailable for comments.
