8 FIRs registered in 16 days: Authorities
Amid unrest in Kashmir, unabated illegal structures are coming up in and around the Dal Lake.
Unscrupulous persons are taking undue advantage of the situation and are constructing illegal structures during night. Reports said illegal structures are coming up at Tailbal, Saida Kadal, Harvan, Nigeen, Nishat, Shalimar, Kanitar, Rainawari and its adjoining areas.
“The construction material to these places is ferried in trucks and load carriers during night. Most of the constructions are undertaken during night. The illegal structures don’t only come up on private property, but the vested interests are encroaching portions of Dal Lake. When the locals resist the moves of encroachers, they threaten them,” said a group of residents of Rainawari.
A group of locals from Nishat area said that “some vested interests are spreading threats among the locals in an order to continue their illegal constructions.”
Another group of locals at Saida Kadal said that “some vested interests in our area resort to stone pelting during day to ensure that area remains disturbed. Then, during night, they start illegal constructions and encroachment.”
The concerned locals urged the authorities to direct the police and concerned officials to stop movement of trucks ferrying construction material to prevent constructions.
Secretary LAWDA Nisar Ahmad Malik said that Enforcement Wing of LAWDA is functional in the field.
“During the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, we have registered eight cases in different police stations against the violators. The violators will be dealt strictly under law,” Malik added.
He informed that some violations were also found in Harvan and Nigeen during ongoing unrest “The cases stand registered against the violators,” he said.
Pertinently, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure no construction is raised on water bodies within their territorial jurisdiction.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the bench on June 15, this year, had made it clear that in case of any breach of court orders, the authorities concerned will be liable for punishment for committing the contempt of court.
