Srinagar: Residents of Ward number 18 in Safakadal area of Srinagar are aghast over the ongoing large scale violation of building rules in the ward and have blamed the Srinagar Municipal (SMC) Corporation officials for allowing scores of illegal buildings to come up in the otherwise already densely populated area.
A delegation of residents from various localities of Ward number 18 of Safakadal downtown Srinagar area told KDC that illegal constructions are coming up in the ward at large scale, while the SMC authorities have kept their shut towards it, resulting in a concrete jungle coming up in the area, without any urban laws being followed.
This they said is in complete knowledge of the SMC officials; however no action is being taken against the violators for reasons better known to them.
One of the members of the delegation Mohammad Ashraf told that during the more than eight month long lockdown period scores of illegal buildings were erected by the people, in various areas of the ward, while taking the advantage of lockdowns related to abrogation of Article 370 followed by Covid-19 lockdown.
Ashraf, a resident of Safakadal neighborhood said that at least houses have been constructed in Gulbahar Colony, Shaheed Mazar Colony Eidgah, during the past six months and none of these houses has sought any permission from SMC.
Same is the case with other areas, where dozens of illegal buildings have come up during the last six or seven months.
Another local resident Zahoor Ahmed Mir said, “Dozens of houses have been constructed in Rathpora, Firdous Colony, Saidapora, Sheikh Hamzah Colony and various other localities of the ward, but no action to stop these illegal constructions were ever seen being taken by the concerned SMC officials, with the result the density of these areas has further worsened.”
“The mushrooming of illegal constructions in the ward has left an adverse impact on the civic necessities of these areas, viz cleanliness, drainage, electricity and water supply,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of the SMC officials to keep a check on the illegal construct, both with building permission or without permission, but no one seems to be interested in stopping these activities in the ward,” he added.
Another resident from Safakadal Bund locality said that a huge commercial building id coming up on the river bank, which seems to be being constructed illegally; however the building owner seems to be hardly bothered to follow the building rules as no commercial building can come up in residential areas.
They delegation members requested SMC Commissioner to have a round of ward number 18 Safakadal, to see for himself how the area is and has been vandalized through a chain of illegal constructions, which has continued unabated since August 5th 2109.
They demanded stern action against both, the violators as well as the officials who allowed these unlawful activities to continue.
Meanwhile commissioner SMC could not be reached for comment as he didn’t respond to the repeated calls put to him. (KDC)
