Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 17: Posh residential areas in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar are being commercialized rapidly in total violation of norms and the menace is causing nightmarish traffic jams.
Sources told Early Times that housing colonies in Jammu and Srinagar cities were developed for residential purposes and no commercial building permissions were accorded in these colonies other than the area earmarked for commercial activity by the concerned authorities, however sources said that majority of these housing colonies have become major commercial hubs with huge showrooms.
Sources said that both the Municipal Corporations have turned a blind eye to these major violations of building norms. Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Sainik Colony, Channi Himmat and Trikuta Nagar in Jammu city have been developed as planned colonies but, scores of owners have changed the land use of residential plots in violation to the existing building norms.
Similarly in Srinagar city's Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Gogjibagh, Wazirbagh and Karan Nagar, Bemina, Qamarwari, Shalteng which are well planned residential colonies are fast turning into commercial areas in complete violation of Srinagar Master Plan guidelines.
Moreover, it has also been seen that residential owners who have rented their residences for commercial purposes have been paying property tax as per taxes applicable for residential property, which is considerably less that the tax applicable for commercial property.
Many reports were prepared in past to identify all illegal commercial conversions in order to take action but nothing has happened as the violations have been made in connivance with the municipal officers and officials.
According to locals, MLAs and prominent influential people residing in these areas have played a key role in growth of such commercial activities. A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said, "Many issues are involved, including laxity on part of the enforcement agencies and political interference.
Though a number of notices are issued to violators, people go to court and get a stay."
Meanwhile in the absence of proper parking norms and designated parking areas, the busy markets and vital roads of the twin cities remain chockablock, owing to haphazard parking of vehicles by roadsides.
The inaction" and nonchalant attitude on part of the administration towards the traffic offenders has further aggravated the situation.
"The High Court has banned the parking of vehicles in Raghunath Bazaar but the directive is being flouted with impunity. It is high time that the administration clamped down on the menace of illegal parking," said Razdan, a local resident.
In Srinagar city, motorists senselessly park their vehicles along roads, causing congestion. "The authorities seem to have turned a blind to the growing congestion on the city roads.
People park vehicles wherever they find space but the administration is least bothered about checking the violations," said Sajad sofi, a senior Journalist working in Srinagar. |
