Srinagar, October 18, : With an uncertain situation prevailing for last two and a half months now and no one around to keep a check on illegal constructions, Srinagar city is fast becoming a gold mine for builders and those who are taking an advantage of the prevailing situation to carry out illegal construction work, without fulfilling legal formalities.
In various areas of Srinagar, particularly alongside the Srinagar Bypass, huge commercial buildings are coming up with a pace matching that of a rabbit, without any check from the Local Bodies, Urban Development or Town Planning departments. Meanwhile city is fast turning into a concrete jungle.
Playing hide and seek with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir’s ban on movement of trucks in Srinagar city, building material continues to be ferried across nook and corner of valley, while illegal construction activity has alarmingly increased in various areas of valley, including those areas, where a blanket ban on any construction is in place.
Although divisional administration has recently imposed a ban on the movement of trucks in the city, with an aim to put a stop on illegal constructions, it has been observed that scores of trucks with building material, ply on roads fearlessly during the late hours of the day and throughout the night.
Illegal construction has been reported, even from notified areas and the green belt around Dal Lake. Construction work on several malls, buildings and houses has picked up since deadlock over abrogation of Article 370 began.
In posh Srinagar localities viz Hyderpora and Sanat Nagar, people are carrying on construction work, without any fear of Municipal authorities, who seem to be unconcerned to stop them. Not only this there are reports of government land being annexed and houses being constructed over those, particularly in Peerbagh and its adjacent areas. On the other side, one can see numerous huge malls and multistory buildings coming up along bye-pass, right from Sanat Nagar to Tengepora. Although some of the buildings who have sought permission from concerned departments, are also reported to be indulging in heavy deviations of approved construction plans.
Amid administration was busy dealing with unprecedented law and order situation, people with vested interests used the abnormal situation as an opportunity to take illegal construction work in hand, particularly in the notified areas in and around Dal Lake.
Not only are building laws being violated in various catchment areas, where there is a blanket ban on construction work, within a stipulated area, but encroachments have also been reported form greenbelt areas like Nishat, Lalbazar, Nigeen, Telbal, Khush Hal Sar, Gill Sar, Aanchar and various other areas.
Even in the areas, where legal construction is allowed, but after fulfillment of tough formalities, construction work has been reported to be going on in full swing, for last two and a half months. (CNS)
