Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, April 1

The government acknowledged on Wednesday that unauthorized construction continues to spread across some of its most prominent tourist destinations, even as it has approved hundreds of new building projects in recent years.

In a written response to a question in the legislative assembly, the tourism minister said that 807 building permissions had been issued by Tourism Development Authorities between 2023 and 2026. 

The number of approvals, officials said, rose sharply in the most recent fiscal year after a brief decline.

More than two-thirds of the approvals were for residential buildings, while others included commercial structures, hotels and smaller lodging units – reflecting continued expansion in tourism-linked infrastructure.

At the same time, officials reported widespread violations across key destinations, prompting enforcement actions that have included sealing properties, demolitions and legal proceedings.

In Gulmarg, authorities identified 21 illegal structures, most of which have been sealed. Pahalgam recorded 28 such constructions, with action ongoing in several cases. 

In Patnitop, 15 structures were demolished, while others were halted before completion.

Doodhpathri emerged as a particular concern, with 147 unauthorized constructions flagged and legal notices issued. 

Additional violations were reported in Sonamarg, Verinag and Bhaderwah, where hundreds of notices have been served.

Officials said enforcement efforts are continuing, underscoring the challenge of regulating development in ecologically sensitive and high-demand tourist zones.

The disclosures highlight a growing tension between the push to expand tourism infrastructure and the need to enforce planning rules in some of the region’s most visited areas.