Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah disclosed that 1,425 illegal structures have been demolished in the Union Territory since the National Conference government took office in 2024. These demolitions, including residential properties, were carried out following due procedures under relevant laws. Notably, the house of journalist Arfaz Ahmad Daing in Jammu was among the properties demolished.
Omar Abdullah emphasized that no construction is allowed without proper authorization, and demolition actions are taken only after verification by revenue authorities. The demolished structures comprised 1,194 residential and 231 commercial buildings, with the majority in Srinagar. Various authorities, including the J-K Lake Conservation and Management Authority, were involved in these demolition drives.
In addition to Srinagar, other districts like Jammu, Ramban, Anantnag, and Kathua witnessed demolitions of unauthorized structures. The Chief Minister highlighted that encroachments are regularly removed in accordance with the law. He mentioned that despite strict regulations, some constructions occur due to legal issues or lack of timely intervention, leading to subsequent demolitions.
