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| Nowhatta encounter exposes SMC-separatists nexus | | Mega mall comes up illegally, Govt silent | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 16: The deadly encounter at Nowhatta in downtown here on Monday that claimed life of a CRPF commandant and left eight paramilitary jawans wounded has exposed how the government is allowing illegal construction of a multi-storied mega shopping complex only to keep the separatists in "good humor."
Officials said the building from where the militants attacked the CRPF patrol party was an upcoming illegal mall apparently looking as an abandoned structure from outside. "From the façade we had been seeing it as an abandoned house. But actually behind this old façade wall a huge multistoried complex has come up in the last three months," said a senior official.
Sources said despite strict directives from the Roads and Buildings department that no fresh construction be allowed in the busy area, which comes under road widening project, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials allowed the "influential family" owning the space to construct the mega shopping complex there. Sources said for the last four years the family had been doing the rounds of the SMC office seeking building permission. Sources said the family was willing to offer whopping Rs two crore "Chai Pani" to the SMC if they allowed the construction of the mall at the prized location.
"But as the site happens to be a busy location just next to historic Jamia Masjid where allowing any construction would trigger a hue and cry, no official risked his professional career to grant any building permissions," said a senior official in the SMC pleading anonymity.
However, recently some SMC officials in gross violation of the ribbon development act, illegally granted permission for repair of the old house.
Sources said it was an underhand deal with the SMC to allow construction of the biggest mall in downtown area.
Sources said some separatist leaders had pleaded the case of the "influential family" before a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.
"The PDP leader in turn asked a senior official of the SMC to allow the building construction," the insiders said.
However the SMC officials were told by the PDP leader not to disclose the case before Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh who is also the Housing Minister.
Sources said the deal was kept secret from the concerned minister only because he happens to be from Bharatiya Janta Party and that his party would never allow such a mischief that too on influence of separatist leaders.
"BJP doesn't bow before separatist so how was it possible that the rightwing minister would give go ahead to any such shady deals," said a source.
But as the work commenced three months ago, sources said some officials from the concerned enforcement wing asked the influential family to pay some Nazrana. "You were willing to pay Rs two crores as Chai Paani, cant you pay Rs 50 lakhs as Nazrana this time when we are doing your work," the SMC officials are understood to have told the family.
Insiders said the family willingly paid the bribe to the tune of Rs five million and undertook construction on war-footing.
"Within three months this mall which is biggest in entire downtown has been constructed," the officials said.
Sources said even though the matter was brought into the notice of Secretary Housing, no action were taken.
The façade of the old building had been preventing public attention towards the illegal construction taking place in the congested locality. "The plan was to demolish the front wall of the old house only when the shopping mall would be fully ready for use," said an SMC official privy to the deal.
However, while the shopping complex was nearing completion, militants took shelter in the building to target security forces on August 15. In the exchange of fire, the front wall of the old building which was acting as cover to the new building collapsed. Two militants died in the gunfight.
Sources said later in the day when a team of high level officials including inspector General of Police SJM Geelani and others rushed to the spot, they were shocked to see the mall having come up in the congested area.
When contacted a senior SMC official declined to have taken any bribe. "But now that the building has come up let's stop dragging the issue too far... Why are you people against development," the official told Early Times. |
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