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| Amid unrest, vandalization of Sonamarg continues unabated | | Violators resume construction works, SDA shuts office | |  Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 16: At a time when Kashmir is witnessing mayhem, a group of politically backed hoteliers have resumed constructions works at picturesque Sonamarg, where the main nodal agency Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA)-tasked to keep vigil on violations, has locked its office.
According to sources, politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen who have constructed big structures at the famous tourist spot once known as 'Gold Meadow' in league with the authorities particularly Sonamarg Development Authority are leaving no stone unturned to convert this meadow into a concrete Jungle.
A spot visit reveals that construction works are going on all those big concrete structures that have come up on mountains slopes and forest areas on the right side after entering Sonamarg.
The influential violators are having a field day to vandalize the fragile environment as Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) has shut its office at Sonamarg.
"SDA office remained shut during last three months but we suspect it's a deliberate attempt of SDA to facilitate bigwigs and let them to complete constructions works during this turmoil," a local resident told Early Times.
Locals alleged the vandalization of picturesque Sonamarg continues under the nose of the state Government rather in connivance with the political bigwigs and officials of Sonamarg Development Authority.
On Saturday, Early Times too found the office of Sonamarg Development Authority at Sonamarg locked. Chief Executive officer of Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) Qazi Sarwar was also found camping at Mini-Secretariat Ganderbal.
"It is good that you have brought this issue in our notice. I will definitely look into it and stop the construction works," he assured.
He claimed his office remains open as he as directed his engineering wing of SDA to keep a vigil and stop all kinds of violations but later left red faced when he saw the pictures of his closed office and engineers present in his Ganderbal camp office.
Social activist, Mushtaq Pahalgami, who too had a spot visit, said, "Sonamarg is also becoming the victim of unplanned and illegal constructions. The area is no more a meadow of gold. Zones which were declared 'green' under the Sonamarg Master Plan have been brazenly defiled by the unholy triangle of politicians, bureaucrats and businesses."
As reported earlier, according official records only 8 structures (hotels) used to exist in Sonmarg before 2009 but now over dozen new hotels with multiple blocks have came up in the area that too in blatant violation of norms laid down in Master Plan.
According to locals, erstwhile NC regime played a vital role in vandalizing the Sonamarg by issuing at least 28 permissions to the influential hoteliers of Srinagar city and some well connected political activists who raised structures in contrast to the conditions put before by BOCA.
The Environment and Remote Sensing department had already warned the development which has already taken place at Sonamarg or is in progress would have an adverse impact on the ecology and environment. |
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