Hope govt will take action on ‘unauthorized colonies’ surrounding JDA land: Nirmal

Jammu, Nov 11 (UNI) Reacting to the notice served by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) for the demolition of ‘illegally’ constructed bungalow, former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Dr Nirmal Singh on Thursday expressed his hope that the government would also take action on ‘unauthorized colonies’ constructed in the jurisdiction of the JDA over a period of time during its expansion.

In a video message circulated on the social media, Dr Singh said, “I am in Ludhiana at present to attend a marriage ceremony and my servant on Wednesday informed me about the notice served by the JDA related to my house at village Ban in Nagrota.”

“I have not yet read the notice but have spoken to my lawyer for further action because the matter is already with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court,” he added.

Claiming that the house was constructed four years ago and he shifted two year back in the house, Dr Singh said, “previously no such notice was served to him ever and it for the first time, notice has been served by the JDA and I will fight for my right.”

“As a citizen of the country, I am also a law-biding person and the government can take any action as per the course of law,” he said adding, “but, I also want to express that at the time of JDA expansion, as per media reports, many ‘unauthorized colonies’ were also constructed within the jurisdiction of the Authority in the surroundings of Jammu.”

“And, I am sure that anybody who falls under the purview of the law, will face similar action from the government side as many house as per reports of some influential and prominent people are either constructed on forest or JDA land,” he said in a message.

He said that he had purchased the JDA land in 2014.

A notice was issued by the Building Operations Controlling Authority, JDA, to Dr Nirmal Singh and his wife Mamta Singh, who is owner of the land, terming the construction ‘illegal’.