Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today sealed shopping complex of a Cabinet Minister in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Government in Srinagar.
The SMC sealed shopping complex of head of People’s Conference leader and Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Sajjad Lone, at Sanantnagar area of Srinagar adjacent to his residence. The shopping complex that was sealed by the SMC has his two sons, Emad and Adnan as owners.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner, Shoukat Ahmad Zagar told Excelsior that the Corporation has sealed 15 shopping malls and complexes that lacked the underground parking. He said that under the directions of Jammu and Kashmir High Court they had to seal 31 shopping complexes and Malls in Srinagar city.
Zargar, however, said that the SMC is sealing only 18 as rest of the shopping Malls and complexes have under construction underground parking. He said that Court has exempted from sealing the shopping complex of former Minister and senior Congress leader, Taj-Mohi-ud-Din that is located on Residency Road.
The court has also sealed the Congress linked Khidmat Trust building on Residency Road as it lacks under ground parking and failed to respond to the notice issued by the SMC.
The other shopping complexes that have been sealed or will be sealed by tomorrow belong to Naved Ahmad Khan, Ghulam Qadir Wani, Mohammad Saleem Dar, Pir Abdul Majeed, Altaf Hussain Mir, Ghulam Jeelani Bucch, Mohammad Sadiq Sheikh, Assar Sharif Matto, Abdul Ahmad Pandit, Usma Syed, Abdul Majid, Muzamil Kareem, Iqbal Sheikh, Merajudin, Tariq Baigh, Pritpal Singh, Najib Ahmad and Mohammad Shafi.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court last week directed sealing of all those shopping malls and complexes in Srinagar city that lack basement parking. The shoppers park the cars on the roads near these shopping complexes leading to choking of the roads and traffic jams.
The Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court comprising Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey had directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to initiate action against these shopping mall owners which includes demolition of these buildings.
Around 47 shopping malls had not maintained car parking facility in Srinagar city as was necessary as per the building permission granted to them by the SMC. However, SMC had issued notices to owners of these shopping malls and complexes to remove the deviations and provide car parking facilities.
Sixteen shopping malls and complexes provided car parking while 31 didn’t respond to the SMC notice. After Court directions, 15 shopping malls and complexes have been sealed and 3 more are being sealed tomorrow.
The other 13 shopping malls have started construction of Underground parking and SMC has decided not to seal them and has already informed the court.
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