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| Encroachments unabated across Jammu city | | Ex-Commissioner Sawhney blamed | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 4: Jammu Municipal Corporation's anti-encroachment drive has brought back the spotlight on ex-Commissioner S.C.Sawhney who allegedly allowed these constructions during his tenure.
According to sources in the JMC, most of these constructions came up during the tenure of Sawhney. They said that Sawhney would abide by the dictates and demands forwarded to his office by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand's office. Sources further said that Sawhney would not only allow constructions but forbid Khilafwarzi officers from taking action against the encroachers.
They added that JMC officials made repeated pleas with Sawhney to allow them to launch a serious and impact creating action against the violators but he did not allow them to even move an inch. This resulted in several illegal constructions coming up on the footpaths and pavements besides the shopkeepers and other big business houses placing their goods encroaching upon the roads.
Worst hit were Indira Chowk, Shaheedi Chowk, Residency Road and other adjoining areas. Unauthorized constructions also came up in Mohalla Baba Jeevan Shah. Such became the situation that a hotelier raised a fabricated bridge over a Nallah by encroaching upon the road and Nallah. Apart from this Sawhney's alleged negligence and nexus with encroachers led to encroachments on the footpaths and pavements.
Sources further said that Sawhney turned blind eye towards the nuisance created by Rehris across the city. This resulted in whole city getting occupied by these Rehris which even today are creating problem for the commuters. These Rehris not only lead to traffic chaos, but also cause hindrance in movement of pedestrians in busiest areas like Raj Tilak Road, Link Road, Jain Bazar, Pacca Danga, Parade, Rani Park area where the roads are extremely congested.
Sawhney's inaction led to while city being turned into a market. Residential areas were turned into commercial centres in full public view and that too with everything being in the knowledge of the even Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, said the sources. They asserted that it was blessing of Tara Chand which allowed Sawhney to do whatever pleased him as JMC commissioner.
Sources further said that during Sawhney's tenure, it was often appealed to the public to get building plans whether commercial or residential, approved from Jammu Municipal Corporation JMC) with threat that if not done, it would lead to demolition and sealing of building but this threat was never meant to frighten encroachers. They would continue with illegalities with JMC commissioner's blessings, said sources.
JMC failed to take any action against these illegalities that were flourishing despite the knowledge of officials and more because of the liberal approach adopted by the then JMC Commissioner S.C.Sawhney. Much of the present mess in Jammu city is attributed to Sawhney despite him claiming too much during his time and being at the back and call of Tara Chand. |
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