Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 10: The residents of Tengpora, Nawa Kadal area in Srinagar today protested against the enforcement officer of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for carrying out a demolition drive in violation of the rules.
Scores of residents came out on the streets after a portion of a shop in the area was demolished on the directions of the concerned officer who is living in the area. They said that the concerned official was misusing power to grab the land of residents illegally.
“These shops are over 30 years old and today they came and demolished the portion of few shops which is against the rules and regulations and has been carried out in sheer vengeance,” the residents said.
Muhammad Sultan Mattoo, whose shop has been demolished, said that the concerned officer has some personal issues with him and that he has been warning him of dire consequences.
“Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the concerned enforcement officer of the SMC in the area, has been taking bribes from people who are building new houses of commercial establishments in the area; those structures have got no permission but they are carrying on with the construction with his help,” he said.
The residents also alleged the same and appealed to the concerned higher-ups to take note of the issue and initiate necessary action against the erring official.
“There is no logic of dismantling the structures that are decades-old and not taking action against the structures that are being built by resorting to violations, the Commissioner SMC must look into the matter,” the residents demanded.
The residents said that the concerned official has been a nuisance and has been on and off harassing them on one pretext or the other.
Follow our WhatsApp channel