Jammu: The government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the construction of residential houses are issued only after thorough scrutiny and field verification in accordance with prescribed norms and statutory provisions.
Replying to a question by legislator Altaf Ahmad Wani, Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment Javed Ahmed Rana said that between January 2024 and December 2025, the office of the Wildlife Warden, South Division Anantnag, received 349 applications for NOCs from bona fide local residents. These applications were routed through the Pahalgam Development Authority, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pahalgam and Block Development Officer Pahalgam, and after verification, NOCs were issued in 346 cases.
The Minister further informed the House that the Wildlife Department has 517 empanelled employees across various divisions of Jammu and Kashmir engaged in the protection, conservation and management of wildlife resources. He said their salaries and wages are being disbursed on time, and no arrears are pending.
Regarding funding, he said that for the financial year 2025–26 the department has been allocated ₹8575.71 lakh under CAPEX, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and CAMPA.
Meanwhile, replying to another question by legislator Iftikar Ahmed, Rana, who also holds the Jal Shakti portfolio, said the Government of India has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) till 2028 and necessary steps are being taken to ensure smooth implementation of water supply schemes in Rajouri district despite temporary fund constraints.
He said manpower shortages in some newly commissioned schemes are being addressed through rationalisation and internal deployment of staff, while vacancies in the civil and mechanical wings are being referred regularly to recruitment agencies, including JKPSC and SSRB.
The Minister also informed the House that the “Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme Thanamandi, Rajouri” has been approved under AMRUT 2.0 at an estimated cost of ₹5.23 crore. The project, which includes construction of intake chambers, gravity mains, a rapid sand filtration plant, sump tanks, ground service reservoirs and distribution systems, is currently under execution and is expected to be completed during 2026–27.
