Even as the locals continue to struggle to get permission for minor repairs of their houses, the rich and influential continue with major renovations of their commercial structures in this South Kashmir tourist resort.
The authorities, however, have been maintaining that only those structures are been given permission, which have prior court orders.
Officials, on the other hand contest their claims revealing that most of the structures that are getting renovated had come up in violation of building permission norms set by Building and Operation Control Authority (BOCA).
“One of the hotels, with around 150 rooms which had come up in violation of building structure rules on the banks of Baisaran stream and Lidder river is presently going for major renovation,” an official said.
He said, “The hotel had come up in the ecologically fragile zone, designated as permissible in 2005-06 flawed master plan, prior to the blanket ban imposed by the court in 2010.”
He, however, said that the hotelier under the guise of repair work is now going for major renovation of the structure.
“The authorities should have filed relevant objections before court regarding violation of building permission norms by the hotelier and its location on river bank but they didn’t do that for unknown reasons,” the official said.
He added that another hotelier with his hotel located in the main market here is overhauling the old and gutted structure.
“The structure was gutted in a fire incident few years back and later it was purchased by a famous businessman who is reconstructing it. Only few pillars stood at the old gutted structure but now a complete structure has come up right under the nose of the authorities,” said the official.
He said that all the sewerage that will be generated from the hotel will directly flow into Lidder river.
The official further revealed that another influential person had permission for construction of hut on Pahalgam-Chandanwari road near Laripora village, however, he went on to construct a big hotel. “The construction work of the said hotel is on under the garb of permission for minor repairs.”
“The construction work is in full swing in Pahalgam and the authorities are facilitating dumping of large scale construction material,” the official said.
He said that the poor villagers, however, are not getting permission for minor repair work of their residential houses and are disallowed even erecting sheds.
“Most of us have sought permission for repair work of our residential houses after we filed Common Miscellaneous Petition (CMP) in the court but the authorities are not allowing us to go for it, while the rich get it without any hassle,” said villagers from Laripora.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), Riyaz Ahmad Wani refuted the reports that any illegal construction was going on in the areas falling within PDA.
“Ever since I took over, not a single illegal structure has been raised. But regarding the repair work undertaken by some hoteliers, only those are being allowed to go for it, who have prior permission from court,” said Wani.
He said that structures, been mentioned as illegal, have received building permission prior to 2010.
Jammu and Kashmir High Court has put a blanket ban on constructions in Pahalgam following the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Peoples Welfare Organization Pahalgam.
Later in 2011, the Court directed the authorities to revise Master Plan (2005-2025) after observing that the earlier one was flawed and prepared with mala fide intentions.
On the directions of High Court, a committee was constituted to prepare the draft Master Plan to incorporate suggestions of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) team which was also constituted on directions of the Court.
Headed by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, with Chief Executive Officer PDA and Director Tourism (Kashmir) as members, the committee appointed a sub-committee which put forth the draft for objections and further suggestions before the public and other stake holders in December 2013.
However, despite being okayed by cabinet on September 7 last year, it is yet to be produced before court for final approval.
