The nexus between politicians (pro and anti India) and the local land mafia is destroying Kashmir’s pristine beauty
Illegal Constructions Devour Pahalgam’s Fragile Ecology
Ishfaq Mir (Greater Kashmir)
Srinagar: Rampant illegal constructions at Pahalgam continue
to ravage its fragile ecology and environs, even as the officials at
the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) express “helplessness” in
preventing the Nature from being plundered by people with high
political connections.
Sources in the PDA said some influential people enjoying political
patronage continue to encroach the land and are erecting structures on
the fragile forest land in violation of the Master Plan.
“Three months ago, five influential hoteliers had made some deviations
to the approved building plan while repairing their hotel buildings or
erecting new structures. They were served notices by the PDA, warning
them to stop the construction but none of them so far has rectified
the deviations,” sources said.
On January 9 last, PDA issued notices to all the five persons vide Nos
EE/PDA/2423-26, EE/PDA/2435-38, EE/PDA/2415-18, EE/PDA/2419-22 and
EE/PDA/2427-30.
“As reported by the Assistant Executive Engineer, you have illegally
made some deviations to the approved building. In this connection you
are directed to rectify the same within a week’s time, failing which
the same shall be demolished by this department at your own risk and
cost” read the notices, copies of which are lying with Rising Kashmir.
However, sources said, despite the notices, none of them have
rectified the deviations but continued the construction in violation
of the approved building plan at the behest of some politicians.
An official in the PDA told Rising Kashmir, “The time given to the
hoteliers for demolishing their illegal structures on their own has
passed. I fail to understand what the PDA is waiting for. It seems
that the Authority fears to touch the hoteliers because of their high
political connections.”
Although PDA has banned the entry of any construction material in
Pahalgam town, the five influential hoteliers have managed the entry
of such material. “None of them had been granted permission for
bringing the construction material in the town but they did it with
the blessings of politicians and police,” sources added.
However, Executive Engineer PDA Akhter Hussian, while talking to
Rising Kashmir, said, “All the five hoteliers stopped the work on
their illegal constructions just after the PDA issued notices to
them.” However, he said one of them (hoteliers) on the directions of
the court was allowed to go on with the construction.
“Whenever we get information regarding any illegal construction, we
take immediate action. Some village people might be doing repair work
which can’t be taken as violation,” added Hussain.