Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 11: After directions from the High Court, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today asked 47 commercial complex owners to restore car parking in two weeks or face sealing and demolition.
Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Shafaqat Khan, today issued a notice to 47 commercial complex owners for restoration for car parking facilities in accordance with the sanctioned plans, failing which their commercial complexes will be sealed and demolished.
“Now, therefore, through the medium of instant notice it is once again notified that all such commercial complex owners shall ensure strictly that the car parking facilities as per the sanctioned plan(s) shall be properly maintained and used only for such purpose, within a period of two weeks from the issuance of this notice, failing which such structures would be sealed without any further notice in this behalf, followed by the demolition of such offending commercial complexes. The commercial complex owners shall place proper sign boards fixed at conspicuous places”, the notice issued by the SMC Commissioner said.
They were issued such notices earlier in 2015 after which some of them restored the parking but later they again used them for other purposes.
“In the year 2015, put to notice 47 commercial complex owners for restoration for car parking facilities in accordance with the sanctioned plan(s), failing which their commercial complexes will be sealed, pursuant to the directions of the High Court in PIL (OWP) No: 458/2003 titled Kashmir Consumer Welfare Forum V/S Commissioner, Transport Department & Ors”, the notice read.
“Whereas majority of the commercial complexes owners, resorted the car parking in their commercial complexes as per the sanctioned plan(s).Whereas the commercial complex owners are bound in law to ensure that the car parking facilities in their commercial complexes are properly maintained and used only for the purpose of car parking”, the notice read.
Last month High Court expressed its dismay over failure of authorities to regulate the traffic in Kashmir and Jammu despite various court orders and directed the Advocate General to take up the issues with the authorities.
Court earlier had directed sealing of all those shopping malls and complexes in Srinagar city which have not provided basement of their buildings for car parking facility resulting into traffic congestion in the Srinagar city and had directed Srinagar Municipal Corporation to initiate action against these shopping mall owners which includes demolition of these buildings.
Commissioner of Corporation was held responsible to execute the order of the court and police was directed to provide required protection while sealing these malls.
The SMC while giving the details of malls and complexes has stated that 47 shopping malls had not maintained car parking facility as is provided in the building permission and they had been directed to remove the deviation and provide car parking facilities in all these shopping malls.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel