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| Officers facilitate illegal constructions in Kashmir, yet to face music | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
srinagar, Dec 5: Administration of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has been found wanting when it comes to acting against its own corrupt officers and officials. This is despite the fact that 'guilt' has been established in most of the cases.
Early Times has learnt from sources that after August 4 officers and officials of various departments and agencies have amassed huge wealth while resorting to unfair practices. Instead of acting against such public servants the axe has fallen on the common masses.
"Over the past few weeks departments and agencies entrusted with the responsibility of looking after affairs of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley are carrying out demolition drive in the various areas. The employees of these departments and agencies claim that they are doing it to ensure that beautification of Srinagar and other places of Kashmir are restored," said sources.
Sources said that during the past four months many officers and officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) and local bodies collected huge amount from people in lieu of allowing the people to carry out construction in the summer capital as well as other places of Kashmir.
"There is no denying the fact that many people violated the law and went ahead with construction without having the requisite permission. But at the same time action needs to be taken against the officers and officials who facilitated the whole process. The government has adopted dual standards in this regard and the same has not gone well with the people as a whole," said sources.
Sources said that the government should order a probe in the amassing of wealth by officers and officials of departments like SMC, SDA, LAWDA and local bodies. The sources said that this would clear the air and make the picture crystal clear as how these officers accumulated huge wealth.
It would be in place to mention here that ever since the situation has turned somewhat normal demolition drive has been carried in various areas of Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir. The drive has been undertaken by the different departments against the people who went ahead with the construction during the unrest period.
"In a democratic set-up the rules are for all and there cannot be any pick and choose policy. The government and its departments have every right to take action that would ensure that order is maintained. However, at the same time it is important that officers and officials who have taken law into their own hands are accounted for their wrong deeds," said sources.
Over the past four months or so illegal constructions have come up in various places of Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir. Scores of illegal constructions have come up in the interiors of Dal Lake and near other water bodies of Kashmir. Following huge hue and cry, the enforcement agencies were 'forced' to take up the demolition drive in the areas where violations have taken place. |
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