news details |
|
|
| SMC official makes hay ahead of retirement | | Allows illegal constructions to mint money | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 14: A month ahead of his retirement, a senior official in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been encouraging large-scale illegal constructions here only to make a fortune.
Sources said in the last around a month, work on atleast 40 illegal shopping malls has geared up, while the intelligence wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police is in know of the matter.
Instead of preventing these Master Plan violations, the enforcement wing of the SMC has been encouraging such works, asking the builders to finish as much work as possible in this month.
While work on some of the illegal shopping complexes was already underway, the construction work on upper floors has only intensified in the last few days.
Insiders said the SMC enforcement wing is offering "special discount" for undertaking illegal constructions this month. "A word has been spread among the potential builders to execute as much work as possible at concessional fee (bribe)," said an insider.
Sources said while the SMC was charging around Rs 10 lakh for construction of each floor of illegal buildings in residential colonies, nowadays, the rates have been slashed.
Official sources said the massive constructions presently underway include the one at Gole Market Karan Nagar where exterior work on a multi-storeyed shopping comples has been completed in brazen violation of the Master Plan, which disallows any new construction in the area due to proposed road widening.
Another mega mall is coming up to National School in the area, while yet another complex is under construction in the inner lane of this posh locality, within 500 meters from SMC head office.
On the Batamaloo-Tengpora road, a huge 5,000 square feet mall is coming up at the western end of the bus stand, towards Unani Clinic, without requisite permission.
Sources said apprehending that Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department could see this illegal construction while driving down this road to airport, the SMC asked the builder to temporarily add old wooden windows to the structure so that any passerby presumes it to be a residential house in dilapidated condition. Insiders said the SMC charged a builder Rs 12 lakhs for the construction.
Likewise on the Tengpora road near the Moominabad court Complex, 12 shopping complexes have already come up. "Most of the these structures were only single storey or even less than that, but given the encouragement by the SMC staff, two to three new floors were added to the structures," said an official adding even though the matter was brought to the notice of the top brass, no action was taken.
Towards the north of the City, two major malls are coming up illegally near the Jamia Masjid Nowhatta. Sources said despite the complaint lodged by the Roads and Building Department, the construction work is on, "hassle free."
On the other hand, builder of the huge mall, which has come up illegally at the drop gate of the Srinagar airport, posing threat to the national security, has been asked to pay additional bribe this month or that his illegal building would be sealed. "This is being only to grab additional bribe," the sources said.
On the Ompora Humhama Road, two 5-storey complexes have come up on the main road near the CRPF camp. "Despite the objections raised by police and paramilitary, the SMC lets the work go on for obvious reasons as the Babu is in a hurry to fill his coffers," said a middle rung official in the SMC.
On the 90 Feet Road Soura on the other hand, 17 new illegal shopping complexes have come up.
Official sources said despite getting complaints, none of these structures has even been listed for any action.
Infact, Early Times learnt that SMC takes "additional money" from builders for not listing any such structure as illegal in the "special file" sought by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh who is also the Housing minister. Dr Singh wanted to put check on illegal constructions.
When contacted a senior official in the SMC downplayed the matter and refuted allegations of multi-crore corruption. "Actually situation in Srinagar has been tense for all these months so we can't do anything till normalcy is restored... Don't blame us for corruption. People are undertaking construction of malls by threatening our staff," the official said, asking not to be named. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
