Mir Iqbal
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has failed to provide building permission to those who houses were damaged in September floods despite its claims that permission will be granted in 3 days.
Scores of families today said that the SMC’s claims to issue permission to the flood affected people whose house were damaged on fast track basis proved hoax. They accused its officials of deliberately delaying the permission process.
Pervaiz Ahmad of Mehboob Colony, Natipora, told Excelsior that he had submitted all the required documents including damage proof to the SMC immediately after it announced fast track permission in the month of September, but till date there was no response from the authorities.
Feroz Ahmad of Qamarwari also said that after the Government announced a policy for reconstruction or repairs of damaged houses and issued an order by the Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) vide No 265 of 2014 dated October 8, 2014, since then he has been moving from pillar to post for permission, but to no avail.
Many other families also said that they have submitted an FIR copy, an Affidavit from the court, four copies of proposed building plan drawings on standard format and two self-attested passport size photographs of the applicant.
They accused the SMC officials of granting permission to influential families and even those on priority who grease their palms.
The flood affected Dal dwellers also said that the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) has become the major impediment for the new construction or repair work to damaged buildings in the area, because of which hundreds of families are being suffering.
SMC, Public Relations Office, Masrat Yousuf told Excelsior that the officials are working over-time to issue as much as permissions to the affected families. “Our officials are trying our best to provide permission on fast track basis, but they at the same time have to take care of set instructions including illegal encroachment,” she said, adding, that is why it takes little more time.
In Srinagar, 5,010 houses have been declared fully damaged by the district administration and if the SMC grants permission for new constructions at the present pace, it would take them more than six months to complete the process, till then victims have to bear the official brunt.
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