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| Over 1000 kanal land under illegal occupation in Gulmarg | | Govt silent despite Court orders | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 17: Over one thousand kanal of prized land at the health resort of Gulmarg is under "illegal occupation of some influential Kashmiri hoteliers who have been enjoying influence in the corridors of power." Official sources said the despite orders from the High Court to retrieve state land from encroachers, the district administration of Baramulla district in general and the Gulmarg Development Authority in particular have been silent over the "illegal occupation of the picturesque land in the meadows." Sources said most of the "encroachers" who happen to be leading businessmen of Kashmir are close to regional mainstream parties, who have been shielding them from time to time.
Sources said some of the hoteliers are occupying hundred times more land than what was given to them under lease.
It was reliably learnt that one of the hoteliers, who is seen as a major offender, is close to a political family, which has been enjoying power for the last three generations.
Sources said given the encroachments done by the influential businessmen, many others who were "comparatively less influential" have also grabbed the government land by allegedly greasing palms of those at the helm.
Insiders said some of such encroachers are paying "regular Nazrana" towards the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA). "GDA has become a hub of corruption as the officials associated with this body not only enjoy patronage of the local politicians but also earn fortunes through this posting in the form of regular Nazranas," said an insider working in the GDA.
He said there was a dire need to order a high level probe into the GDA "misadventures." A retired official in know of the alleged scam said in a bid to discourage "local influence" the government should appoint a non local official of integrity as the CEO of the GDA and also assign the task of monitoring of the affairs to an impartial committee.
The GDA officials downplayed the matter saying the decision to retrieve government land has to be taken at the "highest level of decision making." "Don't blame us, it is for the top brass to decide," said a GDA official on the condition of anonymity. Meanwhile the concerned citizens have appealed Governor SP Malik to personally look into the matter. |
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