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| 2 dozen shopping malls coming up illegally in Srinagar | | Ahead of probable cabinet reshuffle | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 15: With cabinet reshuffle likely to take place anytime soon, as many as two dozen malls are coming up in brazen violation of the Master Plan in Srinagar.
These illegal constructions are taking place right under the nose of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities, according to details available with Early Times.
The SMC officials are allegedly grabbing Rs 10 lakh per floor from the building owners. A former SMC official who shared some vital details about illegal constructions said it was for the first time that Master Plan violations have been "so visible" while the authorities concerned are turning a blind eye.
For example, the Airport Road, although frequented by 'VIPs', is these days witnessing illegal constructions with malls coming up all along the road. A building permission for construction of a 330 sqft plinth area residential house at Parraypora is being openly misused as a 5,000 sqft shopping mall is coming up.
Sources said the permission granted in the name of a woman was allowed to be misused by officials of the SMC's enforcement wing who have charged Rs 10 lakh only for the huge plinth. "We have reports that same amount will be charged as bribe for construction of every floor of the building," the insiders said, adding that the Vigilance Organization Kashmir is in know of the developments.
A huge shopping complex is also coming up illegally near Qamarwari petrol pump on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The complex will have dozens of shops and also space for offices.
On the main road Batamalloo, two illegal shopping complexes are coming up. A huge shopline is also coming up near Pather Masjid, just opposite to the sub-office of the SMC. At Umar Colony, Lal Bazaar, a mega mall is being raised on the main road.
At Zampa Kadal, near the house of former Chief Secretary GM Shuntho, a timber store is being converted into a mega shopping mall. The site is barely 500 meters away from SMC head office.
At Firdous Colony, Eidgah, a shopping mall is being constructed on the main road. Near the dying Anchar lake, Soura, six shopping complexes are being constructed in the area where no such construction is allowed.
At Firdousabad, Batamaloo in Lane No. 9 and 10 shopping complexes are coming up. On nearby Mominabad Road two shopping complexes are coming up. Also, at Gole Market Karan Nagar, a huge shopping complex with space for dozens of shops is coming up.
It is believed that a PDP Minister, who enjoys good relations with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also the Housing Minister, has been mainly responsible for patronizing illegal constructions.
Sources said the SMC officials have told the PDP Minister that if they could allow illegal constructions on political pressures their "personal cases of illegal constructions" should also be allowed.
"It's in the name of personal cases that SMC officials have allowed over two dozen new illegal constructions in the form of malls and are making out of it," insiders said.
Some people have managed to get details of all such illegal constructions along with photographic evidence and are planning to meet PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu in this regard. "We will apprise Mehbooba about the mess," said a civil society activist. |
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