With the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) lying vacant, illegal constructions are reportedly going on unabated in the picturesque tourist resort of Pahalgam, raising serious concerns over regulatory failure and official inaction.
Several hotels and commercial establishments are either being built or expanded without mandatory permissions, with some even encroaching on state land. “There are deviations and misuse of permissions in many ongoing constructions,” said local sources, on the condition of anonymity. “While some structures have been stopped temporarily, fresh illegal activities keep surfacing regularly.”
Influential individuals are reportedly being permitted to transport large quantities of construction material for building approach roads to their hotels in highly sensitive areas, in blatant violation of established norms, they said.
In what appears to be a deeper malaise, several hotels are said to be operating without proper registration from the Tourism Department. “Some cases had been formally rejected for not meeting norms, yet these hotels continue to function,” sources alleged.
After the transfer of CEO PDA Masarrat Hashim, the additional charge was given to the Alyaz Ahmad Naisroo, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Anantnag. However, the ADC too has been transferred, leaving the crucial position headless once again. “No officer is currently dedicatedly overseeing PDA operations,” said an insider, describing the situation as a “complete administrative lapse.”
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over the misuse of state land for commercial construction. Locals and environmental activists fear irreversible ecological damage in the ecologically sensitive zone. “We are witnessing a pattern where rules are being bent and institutions are being weakened. This is no longer about just a few buildings—it’s about the future of Pahalgam,” said an activist.
Calls are now mounting for immediate intervention by the government to fill the vacant CEO post and initiate strict action against violators.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir government removed Masarat Hashim from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), just a month after his appointment, following his efforts to crack down on nearly 300 cases of illegal constructions, including hotels, lodges, and residential buildings lacking proper approvals. The move drew sharp criticism and raised concerns about the unchecked growth of illegal constructions in the area. (KDC)
