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| 2 yrs on, Master Plan violations go unheeded | | 2500 illegal structures mock at Govt | | Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 4: Two years down the line, no action has been taken on 2500 illegal structures raised in Srinagar in violation of the master Plan guidelines.
Sources revealed to Early Times that a committee was constituted by the government four years ago. Out of these 2500 illegal structures, the report submitted by the committee had mentioned that 1100 have come up without any permission and in gross violation of related law.
The report prepared by the high level committee comprising of Additional Commissioner Kashmir, vice chairman Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), DC Srinagar, Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings and Special Secretary Housing and Urban Development was submitted to the government in time but the reason why this report was shelved and no follow-up action taken on the recommendations is best known to the authorities.
"This committee was framed under the order number 159-HUD of 2009 dated November 24, 2009. The committee identified 2500 structures which had come up in violation of master plan norms. This report stands submitted before the government, House committee and the High Court," sources said, adding that this report has disclosed many surprising facts. "This report says that almost all automobile showrooms in city especially set up on Nowgam bypass road have come up in gross violation of master plan norms. Owner of an automobile showroom in this area had got permission for establishing a poultry farm. Instead of establishing a poultry farm, he raised an automobile showroom and a service station using the same permission," sources said.
Pertinently, the Srinagar Master Plan is applicable to a total of 417 square kilometres and out of this 160 square kilometres are looked after by Srinagar Development Authority (SDA). Rest of the square kilometres comes under the jurisdiction of SMC. Sources said that both the executing and implementing agencies of the Master Plan had issued notices 1100 violators but to no avail. Sources said there was no follow-up action after issuing these notices to the violators due to political interference mainly from the city based politicians presently ruling the state. "Instead of taking a strong action against the violators of Master Plan in view of the high level committee report, the government facilitated more violations since then," reports informed. The structures sealed by the SMC are a tip of the iceberg, said sources adding that there is more than what meets the eye as far as the violation of master plan in Srinagar is concerned. "The two executing agencies are virtually helpless to implement the Master Plan on the ground as the higher ups influence these agencies whenever they try to act tough against the big guns," official sources added. Nevertheless, the intervention from the High Court has raised some hopes among people who really suffer due to illegal constructions and mushrooming encroachments in and around the city. In two significant orders passed by the High Court in two separate Public Interest Litigations (PIL), the then government was asked to submit a detailed list of structures that have come up in violation of the Master Plan as also take steps to decongest Srinagar by removing encroachments and formulating a futuristic plan of action for city's planned development. The petitioners of both the PILs filed in the High Court have sought directions to the state government to remove hawkers from the core area of Srinagar city besides demolition orders for constructions made illegally without permission and in violation of the Master Plan in Srinagar. |
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