S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
kupwara, July 12: In-charge Executive Officer and Senior Assistant of Municipal Committee Handwara were placed under suspension by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies.
According to an order (no: DULB/Estt/856/779 of 2019 dated 11/7/2019), pending enquiry into the matter of unauthorized release of arrears, Habibullah Darzi, Building Inspector looking after the work of Executive Officer, and Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, Senior Assistant of MC Handwara "are placed under suspension and attached with the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir with immediate effect."
Wali Mohammad Wani, I/C Chief Executive Officer MC Baramulla shall hold the charge of Executive Officer MC Handwara in addition to his own duties, till further orders, said the order.
Reliable sources in the department of ULBK, said despite knowing that there is a High Court ban on construction of shopping complexes and houses on agricultural land, the officers and officials of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir are openly violating the orders of the court and the concerned agencies from time to time.
"This is complete contempt of court, when the orders or judgments' are not implemented in letter and spirit, but at present there is congestion of building and other structures on agricultural lands in Jammu and Kashmir," said sources.
The Land Revenue Act 1962 disallows the people not to construct any building or structure on agricultural land, and agriculture land should be only used for agriculture purpose.
If one would like to construct a house or any other structure, he has to seek a permission from Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) committee which is run by the board of members including Tehsildar, Exns of PDD, PWD, PHE, and EO of Municipality or councils, said sources.
They said that in Handwara area, there are number of buildings and shopping complexes including houses that were constructed under the nose of the officials of Municipality.
"The department of ULBK hardly bothers about congestion, traffic jamming, pollution and other factors," sources informed.
If sources are to be believed they said, the agriculture land has been destroyed by the land brokers who sell it at high rates and the same land is converted either for residential or shopping purposes, and there is a nexus between the land brokers, owners, and the department concerned.
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