Jammu, Feb. 7 -- 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,...