‘415 tourism permissions in 3 yrs; illegal constructions surge’
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By Ovaise Gul
- Comments 0
- 02 Apr 2026
Pahalgam, Doodhpathri under scrutiny Govt flags violations, ramps up GIS monitoring
Srinagar, Apr 01: Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector is witnessing rapid infrastructure growth, but the expansion is increasingly shadowed by a surge in illegal constructions across key destinations, official data tabled in the Legislative Assembly reveals. The response shared by the government in reply to a query by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para revealed that a total of 415 building permissions were granted by various Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) over the past three years. The figures show a fluctuating trend, with 245 permissions issued in 2023–24, dipping to 147 in 2024–25, before picking up again in 2025–26. Category-wise data indicates that residential constructions dominate the approvals, accounting for 544 permissions, followed by 121 commercial buildings. In comparison, the core hospitality sector saw limited additions, including 26 hotels, 14 huts,
and only 2 guest houses, suggesting a shift towards private and hybrid tourism infrastructure. At the same time, the government highlighted the rapid growth of the homestay sector, stating that 2,613 homestays have been registered across Jammu and Kashmir, offering a bed capacity of 19,328. Officials said registrations are handled by the respective Tourism Directorates of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the expansion has raised red flags, with authorities identifying widespread violations in ecologically sensitive tourist zones. Doodhpathri reported the highest number of illegal constructions at 147, where notices have been issued and FIRs registered. Pahalgam recorded 28 such cases, with 13 structures sealed and action underway in others. In Gulmarg, 21 illegal structures were identified, leading to 20 sealings and one demolition, while Patnitop saw 15 structures demolished.
Additional violations were reported in Verinag (4 penalized), Sonamarg (5 identified), and Bhaderwah, where authorities served 358 notices in a major enforcement drive. The government said that in areas with approved Master Plans such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg, a GIS-based inventory of authorized constructions is already in place, maintained by the Chief Town Planner. For other regions, authorities have made it mandatory to collect geo-coordinates before granting permissions to ensure better monitoring. It also confirmed that special audits and inquiries have been conducted, particularly in Pahalgam, amid growing concerns over unregulated construction and its environmental impact. The revelations underscore a growing challenge for the administration—balancing tourism-driven development with ecological safeguards and strict regulatory enforcement in some of Jammu and Kashmir’s most fragile and high-value destinations.
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