Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Prof Nirmal Singh has been served notice by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to demolish his 'illegally' constructed house in Ban village in the close vicinity of Army's Ammunition depot in Nagrota within five days.
The notice dated November 8,2021 was served to Prof Singh at a time when he was not present in Jammu. In its order of demolition, the JDA said the building was constructed without attaining the valid permission from the competent authority. "...you are hereby directed to remove the illegal construction on your own level within five days from the date of issuance of the order.
Confirming the receipt of the notice in a video message, circulated in the social media Prof Nirmal Singh claimed he was consulting his lawyers in the matter as he was already seeking justice from the High Court in the matter which is sub-judice.
In his response Prof Singh also set the record straight by claiming ever since he had shifted to his new home in Ban village he had not received any notice. "This is for the first time a notice has been served to me by the Jammu Development Authority", he
clarified. In the notice which was served to Prof Singh JDA authorities had claimed that in response to the show cause notice U/S 7 (1) of J&K Control of Building Operation Act 1988 served to you, no reply has been received by this office till date.
"If you fail to remove the illegal construction within the stipulated period of time, the same shall be demolished by the enforcement wing of JDA and cost of removal shall be recovered from you as arrears of land revenue," the JDA said in its order.
It was on March 19, 2018 Lt-Gen Lt-General Saranjeet Singh, GoC of 16 corps, had written to Prof Nirmal Singh, holding the charge of Power and Housing and Urban Development Department at that time, that ongoing construction on a plot, owned by his wife Mamta Singh, is illegal and “has implications on the security of a major ammunition storage facility as well as the safety of all personnel living in close vicinity of the ammunition depot”. Lt-Gen Singh had also requested: “May I request you to reconsider construction of residential accommodation in close proximity of the ammunition depot being a potential safety hazard.”
Before writing directly to Prof Nirmal Singh the army authorities had approached various state government departments including local police authorities to stop ongoing construction activity but failed to do so. Meanwhile, a large number of local residents in the area had also demanded immediate shifting of the ammunition depot to a safer location.
The Indian Army authorities had set up an ammunition depot in 1962 in the area and since then hundreds of villagers have constructed homes in the vicinity. Till a few years ago the army authorities never raised objections nor directed them to shift to safer places by settling their compensation claims.