Over 200 Illegal Constructions Detected In J&K Tourist Zones; Major Crackdown Underway

Srinagar, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that more than 200 unauthorised constructions have been identified across key tourist destinations, with the highest number reported from Doodhpathri.
Replying to a query by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, the government said that Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) have initiated action in these cases, including sealing, demolition, imposition of penalties and issuance of notices. Doodhpathri alone accounted for 147 such constructions where notices have been served and FIRs registered.
The reply further stated that Pahalgam reported 28 illegal constructions, of which 13 have been sealed while action is ongoing in the remaining cases. In Gulmarg, 21 unauthorised structures were identified—20 have been sealed and one demolished. In Patnitop, 15 constructions have been demolished, while others were stopped at the initial stage. Verinag recorded four violations that were penalised, Sonamarg reported five cases, while in Bhaderwah, 358 notices were issued in connection with illegal constructions.
The government also revealed that 807 building permissions were granted by various TDAs over the past three years, including 245 in 2023-24, 147 in 2024-25 and 415 in 2025-26. These include residential houses, commercial buildings, hotels, huts and guest houses. Additionally, 2,613 homestays have been registered so far with a total bed capacity of 19,328. It was also stated that GIS-based monitoring systems are being used in some tourist zones, while efforts are underway to expand digital oversight and strengthen regulatory mechanisms across all areas. (KNC)