Srinagar : A day after Srinagar Municipal Corporation demolished some structures which had come up illegally, photographs regarding an illegal commercial structure coming up in Budshah Nagar Natipora have gone viral. Interestingly, photographs show construction work going on illegally during night hours.
Former Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran who recently was elected as a member to Executive Council posted some photographs about illegal construction. He also had posted photographs about a commercial complex that had been raised illegally.
Besides posting photographs, Sheikh Imran tweeted: “Loot khasoot at Budshah Nagar-Natipora, illegal construction. Ward officer SMC Srinagar acts as a brutal dictator & dehumanizes entire area by exploitation & violation to building norms.”
Sheikh Imran appealed Commissioner SMC Athar Aamir Khan to act and recommended Public Safety Act for the culprits. He also tagged that tweet to LG Manoj Sinha.
Photographs regarding illegal work going on in a hotel in green belt of Shalimar area have also gone viral. This time LAWDA was questioned by the netizens alleging that Lakes and Waterways Development Authority has become hub of corruption.
Kashmir News Trust talked to several Ward Officers who all blamed Corporators for the present mess in Srinagar city. They said they are helpless and paper tigers. “We in fact want to put an end to illegal practices but once a Corporator intervenes we are left with no option but to allow the illegal construction,” said a Ward Officer.
“Our building inspector stopped work the other day at a location in Srinagar. Barely an hour later, Corporator managed to influence higher ups who directed me not to initiate action against the owner of the building,” another Ward Officer said.
Majority of the Ward Officers believe that there is nothing in their hands.
A Corporator said that not all of them facilitate illegal constructions. He said there are few Corporators who for their benefit influence some higher officials and even sometimes threaten Ward Officers of consequences.
Netizens while demanding strict action against those who resort to corrupt practices ask a simple question: “Why SMC demolishes a structure only after it is being raised up and why the officials remain silent and fail to act when the illegal work on the structure begins?” (KNT)
