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| Illegal shopping mall in restricted zone poses threat to Srinagar airport | | 'Militants can easily target aerodrome, air force, security installations' | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: With no check on illegal constructions in the summer capital during the ongoing unrest, the government is now allowing illegal construction of a mega shopping complex in the restricted high-security zone outside Srinagar airport thereby posing a major threat to the security installations.
Senior officials confirmed to Early Times that that construction coming up just next to drop gate poses a "major threat" to the airport and the adjoining area owned by the Indian Air Force. The training camp of the paramilitary CRPF and BSF also fall in the proximity.
Official said the upcoming mall will "compromise the entire security arrangement in the area." "No construction can be allowed at this place. Construction of commercial complex means giving militants a chance to easily attack the airport, the Air force, the CRPF or BSF," said an official. He said some of the vital security installations were visible from the first floor of the upcoming building. The mall has around 40 shops in the first floor.
Though a few shops had been there in the ground floor, taking advantage of the unrest the builder went up for a major construction.
The violation has been so brazen, that the illegal construction is being allowed right at the drop gate of the Srinagar airport where not even a brick can be laid without permission. Presently the second floor of the shopping complex is under construction on the Humhama highlands.
Official sources said the matter was brought into the notice of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir that the upcoming mall poses a major security threat, but the authorities failed to act.
Officials said apart from the Airport Authorities of India, the Indian Air Force picked up the matter with the civil administration asking them to demolish the illegal construction forthwith. "But the complainants were asked to file a formal complaint in writing. Why they want to get a complaint in writing when this building happens to threat to national security," said an official in the Indian Air Force pleading anonimity.
Sources said some of the SMC officials had told their higher-ups that it was easiest to demolish this particular illegal building. "This mall is coming up in high security area, which is under heavy deployment of security forces and has never witnessed any protests. If illegal construction at such a secured location cannot be removed than no construction can be removed," the officials said.
Sources said some enforcement officials have taken Hafta to the tune of Rs 60 lakhs to allow the construction. "No single official takes this money but it gets circulated to the highest levels even in the Secretariat," said a lower rung official privy to the deal.
Official sources said the SMC was allowing construction of five major malls within one kilometer range in the high security area.
Official documents reveal that an SMC team had pointed out all such constructions.
"A shopping complex is coming up at the left side of Humhama chowk while another one is coming up behind the nearby white color house again on the left side of the road while driving from the city to the airport. Another shop line is coming up on the right side of the nearby Railway bridge," reads a report filed by an official.
But the report was trashed. "Basically this report was circulated on the whatsap and finally some of the officials ended up downplaying the matter as they got their share in the deal," the insiders said.
Recently the SMC enforcement squads grabbed millions by hiding names of illegal complexes coming up in the City when the government sought a report of such constructions. As against over 300 upcoming shopping complexes coming up illegally, the SMC gave a list of only 37 structures to the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also the Housing Minister.
Meanwhile the senior official in the Housing and Urban Development Department said Deputy Chief Minister should call for a probe by the Vigilance Organization Kashmir.
"Things have worsened in SMC. Now illegal constructions pose threat to national security as is happening at the airport," he said. |
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