Muhammad Mukaram
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 15: The alleged Master Plan violation and encroachment of prime land by the roadside continue in Srinagar city with impunity from law as those involved are influential people. While the alleged unlawful activity continues to thrive, the PDP-BJP government has been watching all this as a mute spectator.
Some influential persons have raised constructions by the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway but Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) are not bothered, according to official sources. Sources alleged that the illegal constructions by the highway had started during the erstwhile NC-Congress government. "These alleged activities are continuing even after the crushing defeat of NC and Congress in the last assembly polls and formation of PDP-BJP government in the state," sources said, adding that most of the constructions were taking place in the "no construction zones". In violation of the Master Plan, a public school and two car showrooms had come up by the Srinagar-Baramulla road. SMC and SDA did not stop these constructions for the reasons best known to them, sources said. Some land by the Srinagar-Baramulla highway has allegedly been encroached by politically influential families and some government employees, sources alleged.
"Without involvement of officials, no one can encroach even an inch of land but it is a known fact that vast tracks of highway have been encroached," sources said.
When contacted, Showkat Zargar, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, said "I am not to supposed to tell you all this on phone." While admitting the fact that encroachments have been done on Srinagar-Baramulla road, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Power Development and Housing & Urban Development said, "This has been done in the previous government. We will make a law against the violators by the end of December 31 this year. The property of the violator will also be seized soon." |
