Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Vigilance Organization Kashmir has booked officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allowing illegal construction of shopping complex and other structures in the summer capital of Srinagar.
Complaints were received that some officials of SMC have allowed construction of shopping complex and other structure post 2014 floods. An investigation was taken up and it was found that officials of Ward Number 28 of Batamaloo area of SMC in conspiracy with the beneficiaries, abusing their official positions, facilitated and allowed raising of illegal and unauthorized constructions and structures in Firdous Abad, Moomin Abad, Maharajipora Tengpora Bypass and Court Road areas of the ward.
During the verification, it was found that ward officers Shakeel Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Qazi, Showkat Ahmad Zargar and Building Inspectors Nazir Ahmad Azad, Aijaz Ahmad Thakur and Irfan Hussain Mir took undue advantage of post September-2014 flood situation and facilitated and allowed the beneficiaries Ali Mohammad Bangroo, son of Ghulam Qadir, resident of Chinnar Colony Parraypora (M/s Rehbar Steels at Tengpora Bypass) to construct a structure, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, Ghulam Nabi Dar, Bashir Ahmad Dar and Mohammad Amin Dar, all sons of late
Abdul Ahad Dar, resident of Firduous Abad Srinagar to construct a single storey structure with four shops and stair.
They also allowed Ghulam Nabi Dar son of Ghulam Rasool Dar of Moominabad Tengpora (M/s New Dar Traders) to construct a single storey shopping complex behind his already constructed old shopping complex and Mehrajudin Sofi, son of Ghulam Mohammad Sofi of Tengpora bypass (M/s Sofi Poultry) to construct a single storey structure having five rooms.
All these structures have been constructed in violation of the building laws and regulations as in vague and have thereby caused huge loss to the State exchequer as no fee was paid by the beneficiaries and no process was undertaken for obtaining the permissions from the competent authorities with respect to this illegal structures.
The omissions and commissions on the part of these public servants attract provisions of offence under section 5(1) ( d) r/w 5(2) J&K Prevention of Corruption Act Svt 2006 , Sections 120-B, and section 109 RPC and accordingly an FIR was registered and further investigation has been taken up.