Encroachments galore as Govt looks other way

SMC, SDA, LAWDA do little to stop the onslaught

Srinagar: At a time when government is making tall claims to demolish illegal structures along the river banks and in other parts of Srinagar city, encroachments continue to mushroom on the banks of waterbodies like rivers and flood-spill channels in the city while the irony is that Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority(LAWDA)  instead of taking the apprehensions of people seriously allow the affluent ones to resort to encroachments.

Both the Corporation and IFCD according to people have allowed illegal constructions to come up along the flood spill channels, river banks and in various parts of Srinagar city. The irony is that permanent sheds, shops, Tata Sumo Stands have illegally come up under the very nose of the government. 

“We thought this government is serious and will demolish all the illegal structures along the river and flood spill channel banks, but again vote bank politics has spoiled the process,” said a resident of Barzulla Srinagar where embankments are so fragile.

“Even past floods, things don’t seem to have changed. Government is doing only lip service and no action against the persons resorting to illegal constructions is being taken. In the second week of April, government surrendered when it stopped the demolition drive in Parimpora Ghat in Srinagar city. On the intervention of a political leader who felt he may lose the vote bank, drive was stopped there,” a senior citizen said.

When everybody has been expressing concern and asking government to demolish illegal structures after devastating September floods, the concerned agencies are surprisingly silent on the resumption of building activities along the banks of Jhelum in Safakadal, Noorbagh and Aalikadal localities. The locals said the department has been silent on the landfilling of the Jhelum banks thereby reducing flood bearing capacity of the river.

 “We expected that after floods the department would not only discourage but even remove encroachments like Tata Sumo stand erected on the banks river. But here things continue to be in mess,” said a local.

Reports said that two community halls are coming up illegally in Safakadal area of Srinagar city. “The community hall that is under construction in Malik Sahb Safakadal is only 20 feet away from the Jehlum Bank. Vote bank politics has marred us as a result we suffer heavily,” Jahangir Ahmed a shopkeeper said. The flood channel that used to save Safakadal area from water logging was also used to construct a Community Hall in Alnoor Colony Safakadal. One is shocked after passing through Khushalsar. Without seeking building permissions from SMC, people are busy in constructing the residential houses, thus choking the waterbody. 

“The landfilling at Khushalsar continues. SMC officials act as mute spectators after people grease their palms. This is disgusting,” said a senior citizen.

Some vested interests have started occupying Chinar Bagh bund in Dalgate area of Srinagar city. “Just have a look and find out how people have erected illegal sheds and encroached the bund,” said a local.

Sources said some officials close to politicians have succumbed to political pressures and have abandoned the demolition drive. “You will not see a serious demolition drive anytime. Our waterbodies and city will continue to be encroached,” said an official adding that encroachments occur due to political leaders as they never encourage officials to go for a serious drive for petty political benefits.

The flood spill channel in Mehjoor Nagar has been shrinking as illegal constructions are coming up right from Rambagh to Mehjoor Nagar bridge. There is no one to ask these people who resort to illegal constructions. 

The Mehjoor Nagar bund road was 100 feet wide and now it is less than 30 feet. Hotels, Schools, houses have been constructed illegally. Why doesn’t government book those officials who allowed these people to resort to illegal constructions,” Coordination Committee Mehjoor Nagar member Abdul Rehman Reshi  said.

Large scale constructions are on inside marshy lands of Khushhal Sar with land mafia brazenly filling the lake with clay during night hours, residents of the area said.

Another delegation said that a hotel owner near Munwar Srinagar has violated all the rules and has encroached upon the major chunk of road. Commissioner SMC said that he has already looked into the matter and has sought a report from the concerned officials while Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer of the area said that he doesn’t know anything about the development. 

“It needs political will to demolish all the illegal structures and stop such encroachments in future. A law on the pattern of PSA should be passed to punish such people who resort to encroachment and officials who encourage these people in exchange of bribe,” said a University Law Graduate. (CNS)

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