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| HC seeks sealing of 47 illegal complexes in Srinagar, 50 more coming up | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 3: While the State High Court recently directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to seal as many as 47 shopping complexes here for not having parking facilities, around 50 more shopping malls are under construction in Srinagar illegally and without any parking facility.
Official sources said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon was shocked to see that two huge malls are coming up illegally without any parking lot at Shaheed Gunj, barely 200 meters away from his office and the State High Court complex.
Two huge major malls are coming up in Batamaloo, one opposite the Fire and Emergency Services headquarters and the other inside the Batamaloo Bus stand. Three complexes are getting finishing touches on Radio Colony. One more building falls just opposite the Raj Bagh Police Station whereas two are coming up near the Convent school in the area.
In old Kurso Raj Bagh, over dozen illegal constructions are on. In Mehjoor Nagar a huge commercial complex is coming up near the Bund. Likewise, in Chattabal and adjoining Karan Nagar, illegal complexes are coming up. Three complexes are coming up illegally in Batamaloo.
In downtown city, at-least half a dozen shopping complexes are coming up illegally. "In Jawahar Nagar near DAV School, an upcoming shopping complex has almost encroached upon the main road," the residents said. In Jawahar Nagar, six major commercial complexes are coming up while none has basement parking.
On the Airport Road, six dozen complexes are coming up, mostly in violation of building permission norms, while same holds true for Nowgam bye-pass.
Town planners said the biggest problem with these illegal complexes is that they don't have any parking space as prescribed by the Government. "Such buildings can create problems in traffic movement in future and the Government needs to take note of this all," a Town planner said.
The violations are happening unchecked at a time when the High Court has sought sealing of 47 operational buildings that do not have any parking facility. Last week Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed sealing of all those shopping malls and complexes in Srinagar city that lack basement parking. The shoppers park their vehicles on the roads near the complex resulting in traffic snarls. Officials said the traffic situation has been worsening across Srinagar city with the authorities facing ire from both public and media.
The Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice M H Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey had directed the SMC to initiate action against these shopping mall owners.
These shopping malls, already operational, had not maintained car parking facility in Srinagar city as was necessary as per the building permission granted to them by the SMC. However, SMC had issued notices to owners of these shopping malls and complexes to remove the deviations and provide car parking facilities.
"Sixteen shopping malls and complexes provided car parking while 31 didn't respond to the SMC notice," said an official. After the court directions, 15 shopping malls and complexes have been sealed and three more were being sealed today. Of the sealed buildings, one is owned by the family of Cabinet Minister and BJP leader Sajad Gani Lone in Sanat Nagar.
A SMC official admitted that illegal constructions were on. "Basically, we look ahead to get logistic support from the police to undertake massive demolition drives in Srinagar. We will definitely act," the official told Early Times.
Meanwhile, the people of Srinagar have appealed the High Court to take cognizance of ongoing illegal constructions in Srinagar that will add to traffic congestion in future. "There needs to be an end to this mess and the erring officials who work like construction mafia must be taken to task," said a delegation of prominent citizens who voiced their concern. |
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