SMC, SDA express ‘Helplessness’
With the government men and machinery “busy” controlling the the ongoing unrest, scores of people have again started carrying out illegal constructions and riverside encroachments in most of the parts of summer capital Srinagar.
According to eyewitness illegal construction work is going on in the Sheikh-ul-Alam Colony in Ahmad Nagar Soura in City outskirts. However the SMC, SDA and Police officials have failed to report to the ground citing the ongoing unrest as one of the main reasons. Same reports of illegal encroachments were also received from many parts of the Srinagar city. They said that the embankment of river Jhelum from Mehjoor Nagar Bridge to Kursoo Rajbagh, the illegal constructions continues to go unabated. Eyewitness said that the Fatima Begum and her son-in-law Zahoor Ahmed at Ahmed Nagar, Sheikh-Ul- Alam Colony have been taking undue advantage of the ongoing unrest and constructing their house despite reservations and stay order from the Court. “We have been telling them that this is illegal but they don’t pay any heed to us,” a group of residents from the area told Kashmir Post.
“There is a proper Court order and a sty from some of our residents but still they are going for the constructions,” they said.
Earlier the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had stayed all the constructions on the banks of river Jhelum and its tributaries. “The constriction of illegal sheds and walls are ongoing on the bank of river Jhelum from Mehjoor Nagar Bridge to Kursso Rajbagh,” eyewitness said, adding that they are illegally occupying the land in the area but no action has been taken against them.
Experts believe that the encroachments of water bodies was one among the man causes of 2014 deluge, which was even admitted by the state government.
“Over the years, embankment of river Jhelum was eroded by the activities of people who continue to live in sheds on the banks of river. Even after the floods, illegal sheds are being constructed on the embankments that too under the nose of authorities,” they said.
Talking to Kashmir Post, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Bashir Ahmad Khan said that he would look into the matter. He said the team has been constituted who would look into all these matters and report to the office and immediate action would be taken.
According to sources the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today directed took stock of the various matters including the grave issues of encroachments. The Deputy Chief Minister has directed the officers to ensure early completion of various developmental projects being undertaken in the Housing & Urban development sector so that people get the requisite modern housing facilities and the state comes up as one of the model states of the country. The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at a review meeting convened to discuss the status of various developmental initiatives being undertaken by the government. The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation to undertake necessary sanitation measures especially in view of the prevailing situation. He said that people should be actively involved in the execution and implementation of various programs especially the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) as the program has tremendous scope of ensuring the overall cleanliness of the city. He also asked for undertaking a massive campaign for educating the people about the benefits of this programme. The Commissioner SMC gave a brief overview of the steps undertaken for the timely disposal of garbage and sanitation measures besides checking the un -authorized and illegal structures in view of the prevailing situation.
