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| Is Srinagar ready to become 'Smart City'? | | Master Plan violations go unabated, guilty enjoy impunity | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 29: At a time when authorities are gearing up to get approval for Srinagar as 'Smart City', the much deliberated Master Plan violations stare at government's face, putting question mark over whether the state's summer capital is really ready for becoming 'smart'.
While the state dispensation is stressing over the fact that the smart city proposal should contain vision, plan for mobilization of resources and intended outcomes in terms of infrastructure upgradation and smart applications, the Master Plan that was ought to be implemented much earlier is in limbo.
Early Times has already reported that 2500 structures were allegedly raised in the city in violation of the Master Plan guidelines, but till date the authorities haven't taken any action.
A committee was constituted by the government five years ago which found that out of these 2500 'illegal' structures, 1100 have come up without any permission and in gross violation of the 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 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 no. 159-HUD of 2009, dated November 24, 2009. The committee identified 2500 structures which had come up in violation of the Master Plan norms. This report stands submitted before the government, the 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 the Master Plan. 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 the SDA. Rest of the area 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 some ruling party politicians.
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 had 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.
Meanwhile, as the smart city project is being discussed at threadbare for Srinagar, the authorities have to look into the issue of Master Plan violations. Insiders believe that till government doesn't achieve success in implementing the Master Plan for Srinagar, the smart city project would be a distant dream. |
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