From police headquarters to museum complex none have building permissions
‘Illegal’ sarkari buildings galore in capital
M. Hyderi (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: Believe it or not, the state government has “illegally” constructed several multi-storied buildings in the city, as it didn’t get the requisite building permission from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The SMC officials say the buildings even violate the Master Plan adding that the city father Salman Sagar is expected to initiate a “legal action against the offenders”.
The “tainted” list includes the recently commissioned state-of-the-art police headquarters at Pir Bagh on the Airport road, the officials said. Even the Museum Complex on the Jhelum banks, which is getting finishing touches has been constructed without the SMC permission.
To mention, it’s vital for any building construction to have a clearance from the SMC, which gives the permission after a survey of the case though its specialized arm, the Building Organization Construction Authority (BOCA).
Police Headquarters:
The multistoried J&K Police Headquarters building, commissioned past month, officials say, not only lacks the SMC permission but brazenly violates the Master Plan. As against the 52 odd feet permissible height, the mega structure is around 80 feet tall. Moreover, the structure has popped up in a residential area which is in violation to the Master Plan, the officials said.
SMC says the police department didn’t even ever apply for the permission.
The Sangermaal:
Construction of Srinagar Development Authority owned – Sangermaal, the mega commercial shopping complex coming up at the city center is almost complete, but till now the SDA never sought a permission from the SMC.
The Hajj House:
The Hajj House at Bemina By-pass also lacks the building permission. If experts are to be believed the building constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation also violates the Master Plan (2000-2021).
The Legislature Complex:
The SMC officials claimed that the Legislature Complex building, built in over two decades, has been constructed without taking the corporation into the confidence.The building was commissioned in July this year.“Basically the successive regimes neglected the role of corporation and so they never sought any permissions,” said a senior SMC official, requesting not to be named.
The Museum:
The state-of-the-art Museum building on the Jhelum banks near Lal Mandi which is yet to be commissioned also lacks the permission.
Is the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) sleeping?
Well why didn’t the corporation ever take action against such “illegal” constructions? “We apprized the government a number of times but no attention was paid to our requests,” said an SMC official.
Govt response:
A senior government official, however, says the SMC permission wasn’t required for such constructions.
“All these constructions had a nod from the government so there was no role of SMC,” opines an official.