SRINAGAR: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation authorities have proved beyond that rules are only for fools. This is is evident from the fact that to extend favour to one influential coloniser of Kashmir the officials of SMC bent rules to permit construction of residential flats on 25 Kanals of Abi Awal and wetland in Srinagar’s posh Peerbagh area.
The permission for construction of eight blocks of residential flats on Nader Gund Peerbagh wetland without seeking the required No Objection Certificate (NoC) from Irrigation and Flood Control and Revenue departments came to fore when the officials from Revenue (Nazool) and Irrigation flags concern. Vaight
On being exposed, the red faced the SMC authorities vide it’s order No: 4250 of 2019 Dated 16/10/2019 have kept in abeyance the permission granted to colonizer for construction of flats on wetland.
Bend of rules for one influential coloniser clearly shows large scale prevalence of corruption in SMC and this matter needs highly level enquiry by Anti Corruption Bureau, said an official of SMC which refused to be quoted.
Withdrawal of permission doesn’t absolved the officers of SMC for their wrong practice and the LG Manoj Sinha and ACB must investigate as to how SMC officials have allowed construction in Abi Awal and wetland area, avers SMC official.
As per report, the SMC has given building permission on the Survey numbers 270 271, 270, 272, 273 situated in Nadir Gund Peerbagh for construction of basement and six storey residential flats consisting of eight blocks.
The Irrigation and Flood Control department’s Executive Engineer (vide his/her letter no FSCDN/CS/94-98 dated 18/05/ 2) have asked the SMC that to stop the “menace” of illegal construction, the corporation should revoke the permission forthwith and new permission for construction and filling in the wetland may not be granted.
The SMC while ordering cancellation of permission further says that the 25 Kanals of with Abi Awal land comes under the preview of Land Conversion Act as per Govt order no 138-REV (S) of 2016 and as such no procedure has been followed in the process of granting permission.
“…Whereas the master plan land used 2035 of the site being paddy field under agriculture and allied category and not residential and therefore an error has been made on this aspect too. Specifically, the existing use of this land / orchard and the patch is not in the buildup.”
The cancellation order of SMC also stated the applicant in nexus with SMC and Revenue officials have managed the building permission sans seeking NOC from Assistant Commissioner (Revenue/ Nazool) and Chief Engineer/ Executive Irrigation and Flood Control department.
In the light of these observations in cancellation order it’s clear case of corruption which needs high level enquiry to expose those involved in it, said SMC insiders.
JKGN tried to seek SMC Commissioner, Athar Khan view on the issue but he could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.