Umer Malik
Rajouri: The District Development Commissioner's (DDC) Office building in Rajouri has been declared unsafe after continuous heavy rainfall caused major structural cracks, forcing the district administration to shift office operations to an alternate location.
The building, constructed around 1970, had already suffered structural damage during the devastating 2014 rains.
The recent heavy rains and floods of 2026 have further weakened the ageing structure, making it unsafe for employees and the public. As a precautionary measure, the administration has started shifting important files, records, and office equipment to temporary premises to ensure that essential government services continue without interruption.
The incident has once again brought attention to the long-pending demand for a Mini Secretariat in Rajouri. While Mini Secretariat complexes have been established in almost every district of Jammu and Kashmir to accommodate the offices of Deputy Commissioners and other government departments under one roof, the proposed Mini Secretariat in Rajouri has remained stalled for nearly 15 years.
Despite repeated announcements, the project has failed to take off due to prolonged political disputes and administrative delays, leaving the district dependent on an ageing administrative building that has now been declared unsafe.
District administration have ordered a detailed technical inspection to assess the extent of the structural damage and determine whether the existing building can be repaired or requires complete reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the administration has assured the public that all official work and public services will continue smoothly from the alternate location.
The latest development has intensified calls for the immediate commencement of the long-awaited Mini Secretariat project, with residents and stakeholders urging the government to expedite the project and provide Rajouri with a modern, safe, and permanent administrative complex.
