| J&K Govt’s order likely to encourage corruption, harassment of villagers | | Empowering Sarpanch, Patwari, VLW to permit construction, repair in village | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 3: The decision of the Jammu and Kashmir government to authorize Sarpanches, Village Level Workers (VLWs), and Patwaris to grant permission for construction and renovation in villages has opened a new channel of harassment of villagers.
This decision of the government is likely to encourage corruption at the village level because earlier permission was not required for the construction or renovation of houses in the rural areas.
On the one hand, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are trying to gag the voice of elected representatives through oppressive means, on the other hand, such orders have been issued to open new avenues of corruption.
Helplessness showed by sobbing District Development Council (DDC) chairperson Kishtwar Pooja Thakur is an indication of J&K’s government autocratic policies to discredit peoples’ representatives.
On the other hand, some orders have been issued to harass villagers.
On January 22, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had authorized Sarpanches to grant permission for the construction, reconstruction, or alteration of the residential houses in the Union Territory.
According to the order issued by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj of the J&K government, the Sarpanch will be assisted by a committee as well.
“In exercise of the power conferred by Section12, sub-section 2(iv) of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989, 1989 read with Rule 155 & 165 of J&K Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, as amended from time to time. Sanction is hereby accorded to the designation of the competent authority for grant of permission for construction/reconstruction/ alteration of residential/commercial buildings in rural areas of J&K,” the notification issued on January 22 said, adding that a panel headed by Sarpanch of Panchayat will give permission in the rural areas.
For permission to build residential buildings within the Panchayat jurisdiction, the Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat will grant permission and he will be assisted by the village level worker (Panchayat Secretary) and Patwari of the concerned Halqa.
The order also issued permission for the commercial building including shops in the rural areas, the authority has been given to a committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the concerned area while the Tehsildar, town planning concerned, BDO concerned and the Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat will be the members of the committee.
Similarly, for the construction or renovation of any other buildings, including the government buildings in the rural areas, the committee, headed by concerned SDM who will be the chairman, concerned Tehsildar, Town planning officer, BDO, and Sarpanch of the Halqa Panchayat as members of the committee, will grant permission.
The officials of the J&K government said that this order, which has come into effect, will help people in the rural areas in getting permission for the construction or renovation of the residential houses and they will not have to run around to various government efficacies. |
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