SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has granted 807 building permissions through various Tourism Development Authorities over the last three years, according to data provided by the Minister in charge of the Tourism Department.
The figures, shared in a written response to a question by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, show a steady increase from 147 permissions in 2023-24 to 245 in 2024-25 and 415 in 2025-26.
The sanctioned projects include 514 residential houses, 121 commercial buildings, 26 hotels, 14 huts, and two guest houses. In addition to these formal structures, the Tourism Department has registered 2,641 homestays across the region, providing a total bed capacity of 19,329.
To curb unplanned growth, authorities have intensified enforcement against unauthorised constructions in major tourist hubs. In Doodhpathri, 147 illegal constructions were identified, leading to the registration of FIRs and the issuance of formal notices. Similarly, 358 notices were served in Bhaderwah to address violations.
Enforcement actions were also reported in other key destinations where officials have sealed or demolished several structures. In Gulmarg, 20 structures were sealed and one was demolished out of 21 identified illegal buildings. Pahalgam saw 13 structures sealed out of 28 unauthorised constructions, with further actions underway. In Patnitop, authorities demolished 15 structures and halted several others at the initial stages of construction. Additional violations were penalised in Verinag, while five illegal constructions were identified in Sonamarg.
The government is now utilizing GIS-based inventories and mandatory geo-coordinates to monitor assets in areas like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. Special audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General and vigilance inquiries have also been conducted to investigate illegal constructions in Pahalgam and Sonamarg, although the final findings for Sonamarg are yet to be formally shared with the department.
