JAMMU, April 1: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has reported granting 807 building permissions through its Tourism Development Authorities in the last three years, while concurrently identifying and initiating action against 578 instances of illegal constructions across the Union Territory.
The Chenab Times has learned that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the portfolio for the Tourism Department, provided this information in response to a query from PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para in the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister detailed that 245 building permissions were issued in the fiscal year 2023-24, followed by 147 in 2024-25, and a substantial 415 in 2025-26.
A further breakdown of these permissions revealed that the majority, 544, were allocated for residential houses. Additionally, 121 permissions were granted for commercial buildings, 26 for hotels, 14 for huts, and two for guesthouses. The Chief Minister clarified that the registration of homestays operates under a separate purview, managed by the respective Directorates of Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. As of the latest update, 2,613 homestays have been registered, offering a combined bed capacity of 19,328.
Regarding unauthorized developments, the Chief Minister stated that a significant number of illegal and unauthorized constructions have been identified in prominent tourist destinations. Actions taken have included sealing of premises, demolition of structures, and the imposition of penalties. Official data indicates that 578 illegal constructions were detected across various tourist locations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Specific figures were provided for key areas. In Gulmarg, 21 illegal structures were identified, resulting in 20 being sealed and one demolished. Pahalgam reported 28 illegal constructions, with 13 sealed and action pending for the remainder. Patnitop saw 15 illegal structures demolished, with further encroachments halted at preliminary stages. In Verinag, four unauthorized constructions were penalized.
Doodhpathri recorded the highest number of illegal constructions identified, with 147 structures. Notices have been issued and First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in these cases. Sonamarg identified five illegal constructions, while 358 notices were served in Bhaderwah for similar violations. The Chief Minister also highlighted that GIS-based inventories of authorized constructions are being maintained in key tourist zones like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam, where Master Plans are in effect.
For other areas, the process involves collecting geo-coordinates of proposed assets before granting permissions to facilitate ongoing monitoring and regulatory oversight. The Chief Minister also addressed audits related to illegal constructions. A special audit of illegal constructions in Pahalgam was conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in 2025, with its report anticipated. In Sonamarg, audit and vigilance inquiries have been conducted, though their findings are yet to be formally disseminated to the department.
The Chenab Times News Desk