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| State Government fails to act against political bigwigs as violations to Srinagar Master Plan continue | | Sagar, Rana among the violators | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Despite the official rhetoric that Parimpora-Pantha Chowk stretch of Baramulla-Srinagar-Jammu highway is purely residential no action whatsoever has been taken against the people who have raised commercial establishments along the stretch.
Sources told Early Times that majority of the owners of these commercial establishments are bigwigs enjoying close rapport with the corridors of power more so those belonging to National Conference. They said the State Government is following its own habit of saying one thing and doing quite different to that.
"This stretch of the highway connecting North Kashmir with Central Kashmir, South Kashmir and ultimately Jammu was supposed to be a residential colony. This area was meant to accommodate the people who would shift from different areas of Srinagar. However, no check was carried out and the stretch turned out to be commercial area," said sources.
Sources said that some of the leaders and Ministers associated with National Conference are the partners of some commercial establishments falling on this stretch. They said that given this situation how one can expect the State Government to take action against its own people despite the fact that they are party to the violation of Srinagar Master Plan.
"It is a known fact that National Conference leaders like Ali Mohammad Sagar and Devinder Singh Rana are partners of some of the commercial establishments. In addition to this influential people are the owners of the other commercial establishments. The people at the helm would think more than once before taking action against these people," said the sources.
Sources said that despite erection of signboards by Srinagar Development Authority asking people not to erect commercial structures people continue to raise the commercial structures. In the recent past some of the commercial structures have been thrown open and they are carrying on with their business.
"Given the recent passing of the bill seeking moratorium on demolition of illegal structures by March 31, 2015 in Srinagar, Jammu and Katra cities, how can one expect action against people who have come up with commercial establishments on the highway. The Government itself encourages violators of law and how can they action against them is a million dollar question," said sources.
Sources said that 10 times deviations or violations have taken place in certain cases with the same all set to get legalized after the passing of the bill in the State legislature. They said the violators would be imposed with a minimal fine and the Government would come with an impression that violators have not been allowed to run away scott free.
It would be in place to mention here that when Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand was the Minister for urban development it was announced that a drive to demolish the commercial structures would be carried along the Parimpora-Pantha Chowk stretch of the highway.
However, with the passage of time no action whatsoever was taken with people raising questions about the rhetoric and the real action of the State Government. |
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