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| At Pahalgam, PDA-MCP tussle begins again as municipality President halts beautification works | | |
Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, June 15: The friction between Pahalgam Development Authority and Municipal Committee Pahalgam has surfaced again after president of municipality stoped execution of works initiated by Pahalgam Development Authority to beautify River Lidder banks.
Pahalgam Municipality President Rayees Ahmad Lone has written to Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority and asked him to seek 'consent' from him before executing the works.
Lone in his letter says that the development Authority has already developed Sakhi Pathri Island in year 2012-13 and spent huge amount on it. "...came to know that your Department has started developing it again without seeking consent from the undersigned/ward member," reads the letter.
He has asked CEO PDA to furnish details related to the works within two days.
"In 2012 PDA wasted the money but this time i will not allow them to waste the money again" Lone told Early Times.
He alleged that contractors executing the works were using heavy machinery for excuating material (gravels) from the protected areas of river Lidder. "How they (contractors) can go for execution in river Lidder," he said.
He has also written to Director Fisheries and asked him to initiate action against the contractor, who according to him was excuating gravels from precious River Lidder.
Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani told Early Times that Municipality President was acting on behast of land encrochers against whom they have started a drive.
"He is habitual of unnecessarily interfering into Developmental works we initiate at Pahalgam. On one day he stops our works and then quietly allows contractors to resume it" CEO said.
He said that the PDA was constructing an alternate Ponny Track on the directions on Hon'ble High Court. "On the directions of Hon'ble High Court, we are constructing alternate Ponny Track to restrict the movement of ponnies from the market " he added.
He said that they were not raising constructions but strengthening river banks and beautifying parks as per the Pahalgam Master Plan.
"We are just creating more space for tourists and Amaranth Pilgrims," he said, adding that the works initiated by PDA were duly approved by the Government.
CEO PDA said that he hasn't received any letter from the Municipality President, however maintained that the municipality has no authority to stop the works as they are being executed as per the provisions of Master Plan and as per the directions of Hon'ble High Court.
"All parks and recreational points are established on river bank at Pahalgam hence PDA is supposed to develop them by way of turfing, beautifying river banks and taking all measures to prevent river banks," he said, adding that the park in question has suffered damages duirng 2014 floods and needs to be developed likewise Sereen Park and Theme Park on Lidder river banks.
CEO said that despite facing stiff resistance from anti-social elements, PDA has successfully managed established to Solid Waste Unit and Sweage Treatment Plant at Pahalgam.
"Step taken by Municipal Committee will prove disastrous for the region and it will force us to divert money to other areas" he added.
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