JHELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): On May 27, authorities in Jhelum Valley took action when illegal construction near Chinari damaged a National Highway Authority (NHA) wall, leading to the arrest of three individuals and a complete halt to the unauthorised work.
Just a few hundred metres from Chinari police station, in the village of Chananian along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road, illegal digging broke through an NHA wall.
The incident drew swift attention from Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Valley, Beenish Jarral, Superintendent of Police Mirza Zahid Hussain, and District Council Chairman Tayyab Manzoor Kayani.
Moreover, officers from the Revenue Department and local police, all visited the site and ordered an immediate stop to all illegal construction.
The Chinari police arrested three suspects: Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Waleed (sons of Muhammad Rafiq), and Ghulam Ali (son of Nazar Din), all residents of Chananian.
A formal case was filed under sections 431/430-A and 427/109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and the individuals were taken into custody.
This enforcement action followed a strongly worded letter from NHA’s Deputy Director in Muzaffarabad, Muhammad Hasnain Turi, who raised concerns after the incident was reported in the media.
He wrote to the Jhelum Valley administration and police, pointing out that the unauthorised digging on the Chananian hill had damaged a stone wall owned by the NHA.
He warned that such illegal construction in Jhelum Valley could trigger dangerous landslides, pose risks to travellers, and potentially block the road.
According to NHA rules, no structure or building is allowed within 40 metres, or 132 feet, on either side of the central Right of Way (ROW) line.
During their site visit, Deputy Commissioner Beenish Jarral also issued several orders related to cleanliness and infrastructure: the removal of all waste dumped into the canal near the Chinari bazaar bridge, demolition of unauthorised structures near Jaskol Waterfall, and installation of passenger shelters at Khatai Cross.
Both the Deputy Commissioner and the SP stressed that no one would be allowed to construct buildings illegally. “Strict legal action will be taken against violators,” they warned.
They also called on the public to cooperate with authorities in preventing illegal construction in Jhelum Valley. Locals have praised the timely actions of the district administration and police, thanking them for protecting public property and safety.
