Azad orders cancellation of 31 JDA allotments

Jammu, Sep 22 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today ordered the cancellation of all 31 Jammu Development Authority's (JDA) allotments, which were made without auction, sources said.

Mr Azad, who had announced a war against corruption and nepotism in the state, ordered the cancellation of allotments after the name of his younger brother Sajjad Ahmed Bhat cropped up as a beneficiary, the sources told UNI.

Taking great exception to the allotments, the Chief Minister sought the names of beneficiaries from the JDA Vice-Chairman Ashok Parmar. JDA submitted a list of 31 beneficiaries to the allotments, th sources said.

''While two allotments were made during the current financial year, which included one to Chief Minister's brother, 28 were made between 2004 and 2006,'' the sources informed.

Mr Azad had also sought details from the JDA as to why allotments had been made without following a proper procedure.

Reportedly, the JDA had advertised the allotment of shops in the shopping complex on a ''first come first served'' basis two years ago. Mr Bhat approached the JDA claiming he was facing financial problems as he did not have a job and he needs space for a shop.

JDA vice-chairman Ashok Parmar forwarded his request to Mr Qazi Afzal, then Housing and Development Minister, who later sanctioned the allotment of a shop for Rs 10 lakh payable in four installments at a prime location.

UNI