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| Amid unrest, SMC babus make hay as sun shines | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 2: Amid ongoing unrest in Kashmir, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has allegedly managed to grab a new "Hafta" in crores from ongoing large-scale illegal constructions in brazen violation of the Master Plan.
Sources said given the complaints of massive illegal constructions, mainly commercial, the government had asked the civic body to consolidate a detailed report of upcoming illegal constructions so that the moment the situation improves the structures would be demolished. The High Court has already directed the government to keep check on Master Plan violations.
But some of the officials in the enforcement squad of SMC found it an opportune moment to grab the "windfall" from the builders of illegal commercial structures. Sources said the concerned officials told the builders to pay additional bribe to get their illegal constructions, mainly malls, spared from the list being prepared or subsequent demolition.
Official sources said a builder in Gole Market, Karan Nagar locality here paid kickbacks in lakhs. "This money was apart from the money was already paying per floor to undertake the illegal construction," the sources privy to the deal said. Since the day SMC exempted him from being listed, he has raised second floor of the upcoming mall.
In another complaint, some senior SMC officials had been allowing construction of illegal shopping malls on the 90 Feet Soura Road.
Official sources said these constructions had been already underway when the unrest erupted in Kashmir on July 8, in the wake of killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
These illegal constructions were also asked to pay "additional amount or that their details would be sent to the government."
In another instance, four shopping complexes were being constructed illegally on the Mominabad Batamaloo highway whereas an illegal complex has been constructed right at the Tengpora crossing.
Official sources said in all the cases some of the allegedly corrupt officials apart from taking huge kickbacks to allow illegal constructions, took "Chai Paani" for getting the illegal constructions spared from being listed before the government.
Officials said ignoring over 250 illegal constructions, the SMC has prepared a "symbolic" list of mere 37 illegal structures and sent a copy to the office of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who is also the Housing Minister. A copy has also been sent to the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan.
Insiders in SMC said the government has been grossly misinformed. "These corrupt officials are taking advantage of the unrest to raise personal coffers. One wonders what prevents the government from initiating an inquiry through Vigilance Organization of Kashmir," said a senior official in the Housing and Urban Development department in know of the matter.
Sources said that even 37 structures would not have been listed but that these constructions had already come to the notice of the government top brass, including Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh.
"The mafia at SMC was willing to grab money even from these illegal constructions but that there were apprehensions that Dy CM is already aware of the sites that the list was prepared," the insiders said.
Officials the list of illegal constructions as prepared by SMC was being published in the newspapers in the coming days.
Despite repeated attempts the SMC Commissioner could not be contacted for comments.
The Chief Enforcement Office, SMC Nisar Ahmed while refuting the allegations of kickbacks said "Actually the situation is not conducive to visit all locations and get details so we have prepared list of 37 cases only."
He said as and when the situation improves further sites of illegal constructions would be explored by the enforcement squads. "Presently accessibility to such areas is difficult," the official told Early Times.
Since last year Srinagar, amid growing complaints of corruption, there has been unusual rise in illegal constructions in the City, but the government has failed to initiate any inquiry, which could expose the rot. |
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