Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 9: The demolition drive against illegal encroachments and constructions on Government land and roads in Kashmir has been stalled as various wings of the Jammu and Kashmir blame each other of sabotage.
The Civil administration of various districts and the local civic bodies launched an aggressive drive to remove the illegal constructions, especially from the banks of various water bodies, after a Division Bench of the High Court hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) rapped the authorities for allowing these constructions to come up in the first place.
The illegal construction along the banks of River Jhelum and other water bodies including waterways and canals were listed as one of the major reason for the devastating flood in Kashmir last year that left 285 persons dead and destroyed property worth thousands of crores.
Following the High Court orders to remove the encroachments, the official machinery got to work and removed hundreds of illegal houses, shops and other constructions along the banks of water bodies and other parts of the city.
However, the drive came to an abrupt halt in the second week of January.
The officials maintain while many factors were responsible for stopping the drive, the biggest reason was non-cooperation of police to provide protection to the demolition squads.
“First the concerned police officials said they were busy with security duty for Republic Day functions but even after that they have not provided security for the demolition squads,” an official of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) said on the condition of anonymity.
He said it was surprising that some illegal constructions have come up after the floods in the city merely based on the stay orders issued by the lower courts.
“Many violators are taking the justice system for a ride. They get a stay order against demolition of non-existent structures and start construction afterward,” the official said.
He said dozens of shops have come up on State land and roads have been encroached upon by using this modus operandi.
Another official from Roads and Buildings Department said some violators had got interim orders from courts to stall the demolition drive.
“A violator at Barzulla had encroached upon the road, constructed a cotton carding factory and cowshed on it. We demolished it as per law.
“The violator managed to get a conditional stay order from the court and under its garb, reconstructed these structures. We approached the concerned police station for security to demolish it again but were denied it,” the official said.
Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir had on December 20 last year directed that the officials “should not demolish the said properties except in due course of law”.
In a subsequent order, Justice Hasnain Masoodi had on December 31 directed that “in the meantime, position on spot as on date shall be maintained till the next date of hearing”.
District Magistrate Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Lone said there was no question of denying protection to the demolition squads. “We will examine all these cases and action will be taken,” he said.
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