news details |
|
|
| PDA's "selective" demolition drive angers locals | | People up in arms against minister's son-in-law | | Saahil Suhail
Anantnag, Aug 2: There has been anger in Movera village of Pahalgam where Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) was today alleged to have carried out a demolition drive against illegal constructions in the area.
Only poor were touched while no action was taken against the rich and influential violators, people alleged.
Reports said that this morning, a PDA team and revenue officials arrived in Movera village along with machinery to carry out demolition of structures raised illegally on the river bank. They said the team entered newly constructed hotel of Mohd Altaf Butto and damaged the lawn of the hotel on which the Srinagar based hotelier had kept tiles and cement. Locals, who were up in the arms against the development authority for selectively damaging the residential houses of local inhabitants, told Early Times that the demolition team without touching the illegally constructed huts and hotels entered Movera and demolished the residential house of Mohd Ramazn Raina, son of Mohd Sultan Raina.
"I am a resident of this village. Without any notice they came and demolished my house which I was constructing," Mohd Ramzan told Early Times, adding that he had sold jewellery of her wife for constructing the house which was completely demolished by the PDA. He said that PDA was targeting only poor and helpless and had no courage to touch the illegal constructions raised by rich and influential.
"If we fall under PDA then what has it done for the development of our village?" Ramzan questioned and said that he hasn't violated the rules as his damaged house is 2000 ft away from the river Lidder bank. He also questioned the timing of demolition drive carried out by the development authority and said, "Why Now? What were they doing when illegal construction of hotels and huts was going on her?" Locals who stalled the demolition drive and clashed with the demolition squad, demanding action against the rich also. "We will not allow selective demolition of structures here. If PDA has the courage, let it first demolish the illegally constructed hotels of son-in-law of a minister and Congress leader," they said.
The minister's son-in-law has constructed three hotels in the same area and carried construction work during night hours, locals claimed.
Demolition drive was ealier stalled by locals in Pashward Batkote after the PDA reached in area to demolish the commercial structures of a local resident.
Pertinently, High court has put a ban on raising constructions in Phalgam and its adjacent areas. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
