Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 4: After recent notice of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) asking people to stop constructions within the limits of the Srinagar Master Plan, the Municipalities have asked the SDA not to intervene in the building activities in their areas.
As per the Srinagar Master Plan (2000-2021) the total local area of the Greater Srinagar comprised 416 square kilometers and it encompassed the areas that fall within the boundaries of foothills near Nagbal and Harwan on the North, Saidpora up to Nambal, Shalbugh on the North -West, Mujgund on left side bank of river Jhelum, Narbal towards West on the national highway, Soibugh and Ompora on the South-West, Wathoora and Wagoora on the South, Gallandar on the South-East and industrial township of Khrew on the East.
The SDA in its notice issued last month asked people to seek permission from the Authority for any construction activity in the 416 square kilometer area of Greater Srinagar.
Director Local Bodies Kashmir, S A Laharwal, has questioned the authority of SDA in intervening in the construction activities in the Municipality areas. In a letter addressed to the Vice Chairman of the SDA (No. DULB/G/922II/6455-6502 dated 30-07-2012), Laharwal has asked VC SDA to direct his field staff not to intervene in the construction activities falling within the territorial jurisdiction of Municipal institutions of Kashmir.
The Director in his letter has said that SDA has declared some areas including the areas falling under the Municipal Committees of Pampore and Khrew as part of SDA as far as building permission is concerned. The letter said that these areas stand notified by Government as Municipal Committees prior to the establishment of SDA. “The issue will result in a major law and order problem in these areas once the elected bodies are put in place the elections for which are likely to take place by the end of summer”, the letter added.
The letter further said that the Government in exercise of the powers conferred by virtue of Section 4 of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Guarantee Act 2011 has notified Executive Officers of the Municipal Councils and Committees as designated officers for granting building permissions vide SRO 224 dated 21 July 2011 within the territorial jurisdiction of respective Municipal Councils and Committees.
As per the notice issued by SDA last month the authority has to look into 416 square kilometers where, as per last year’s census, there are around 3 lakh structures.
However, as per the records the SDA has meager staff to look into violations in such a huge area. The present strength of the Demolition wing of the SDA is one Deputy Director, one Khilafwarzi Officer, 3 inspectors and around 2 dozen demolition guards. This staff is in-sufficient for the monitoring, vigil and carrying out demolition in local areas of the SDA and they have not a single bulldozer to counter violations of the Master Plan. The SDA has few iron rods with which they have to carry out demolitions in such a huge Srinagar city area.
Sources said that the SDA over the years has failed to stop illegal constructions on either side of Srinagar By-pass which is very limited area. Huge shopping complexes, hotels, hospitals, and showrooms of various car making companies have come up in violations of Srinagar Master Plan and SDA has failed to act.
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