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| Ignoring SAC recommendation to sack him, he was appointed SMC Commissioner | | Omar's darling Qasba to 'face music' over illegal constructions | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: The state government here is mulling to end illegal encroachments on floods channels and axe is likely to fall upon the former Municipal Commissioner of Srinagar G.N. Qasba who allegedly had approved a plethora of building permissions which otherwise were forbidden in the summer capital.
Sources privy to this development divulged that the state government has initiated a high level inquiry into the construction of illegal structures on Srinagar which turn out to be a major factor in submerging city and putting it on a brink of another flood threat.
Reports informed that during the tenure of Qasba, SMC has accorded scores of building permissions in gross violations, turning flood spill channels into a concrete jungle.
Mir Javid Jaffer, the chief engineer Irrigation and Flood Control said the government has directed his department to take measures in bringing down the illegal structures constructed along the river and flood channel banks earlier. He added the process of bulldozing the structures would start by May this year.
On February 6, this year, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, submitted report of the Committee constituted with reference to the encroachment of state land in Srinagar.
The committee headed by District Development Commissioner filed a 513 page report in the High Court confirming encroachments on thousands of kanals of government land in the City.
On February 19, 2015, Seeking compliance report within three weeks, the High Court said, "Failure to remove the encroachment on the state land, as per the details, shall invite appropriate action against the erring officers/ officials in terms of applicable laws."
Disapproving the inaction of the government to remove the encroachments, the Court observed no action was taken by the concerned authorities. "No steps have been taken by the State Authorities, who are custodian of the public property, to ensure retrieve of the said land after evicting the illegal occupants. There is nothing on record to suggest that Srinagar Municipal Corporation has furnished the report to Sub Divisional Police Officer, Maharaj Gunj, to enable him to conclude the enquiry/ investigation ordered by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, and no report is submitted by the SSP, Srinagar, also," the Court said.
Meanwhile, sources said the records of the SMC have revealed that during the last three years of Omar Abdullah's tenure, illegal structure in hundreds were raised in Srinagar which become one of the major reasons of devastating floods in September last year. "Most of the structures are raised along the flood channels. There were raised in open with government turning blind eye towards such a drastic violation. Records are spilling beans and action, for sure, will be taken against the involved," one of the officials said, adding that Qasba was heading the vital post of SMC commissioner when scores of illegal constructions were raised in Srinagar.
The state Accountability Commission (SAC) earlier had recommended sacking of Qasba in a fraud committed in the organization.
"He should be dismissed," recommended SAC, however, Qasba went to court and stayed the dismiss order.
Interestingly, following the stay, he was appointed as director SKICC and then appointed as Commissioner SMC.
Reports informed that in 2007, Ghulam Nabi Qasba, the then Additional Registrar Cooperative Jammu, was indicted by the SAC for shielding a corrupt Junior Assistant who had fraudulently withdrawn Rs 50 lakh from the department accounts. SAC recommended to the government to dismiss Qasba from service under Rule 30 of J&K Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal), Rules of 1956. Qasba approached the High Court and got the stay orders. He was later elevated as the Director of the prestigious SKICC in Srinagar. Qasba, surprisingly was later appointed on the powerful post of Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation by Omar Abdullah led coalition government in JK. |
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