The Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) has raised an urgent concern regarding the illegal construction activities proliferating in the ecologically sensitive zones of the renowned tourist destination, Pahalgam, reported Greater Kashmir.
In a formal communication to the Union Territory government, the PDA has requested immediate intervention to prevent these violations, which pose a significant threat to the region’s fragile ecology.
According to sources, quotes by the Srinagar-based newspaper over 300 unauthorized constructions, including large hotels, guesthouses, and huts, have emerged across various areas within the jurisdiction of the development authority.
These structures are not limited to Pahalgam’s main town but extend to surrounding villages like Ganshibal, Sarabal, Langanbal, Lidroo, Batkoot, and others. Notably, some constructions are encroaching into sensitive areas such as Ladi and Dehwatoo, which lie beyond the PDA’s jurisdiction.
Officials have warned that if these illegal developments continue unchecked, they could severely damage the environment, undoing decades of conservation work by local communities.
The PDA has taken action by issuing notices to violators, demanding an immediate stop to construction activities.
CEO of the PDA, Masrat Hashim, confirmed the development, stating that the authority had formally written to the government and issued stop-work notices to those flouting the regulations.
Hashim emphasized that strict measures would follow for those continuing their construction activities, even in areas outside the green zones but lacking valid permits.
In 2010, the Jammu Kashmir High Court, prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by local residents, banned all new construction in the area, including repairs.
The court also ordered the creation of a master plan prioritizing environmental preservation. However, the initial Master Plan 2025, formulated in 2005, contained several loopholes, allowing unchecked hotel and guesthouse constructions within green zones, leading to severe environmental damage.
In response, a revised Master Plan for 2032 was introduced in 2015 by the Town Planning Organization, which aimed to curb further ecological degradation. Yet, in subsequent years, local residents pointed out inconsistencies, such as the questionable designation of environmentally sensitive zones around the Liddder Valley Golf Course as permissible for commercial construction.
Despite finalizing the revised Master Plan in 2022, concerns about continued construction persist.