news details |
|
|
| Patnitop: PDA allows illegal constructions in no construction zone | | HC asks State Govt to seek permission from Apex court to construct Convention Centre; Private players, enjoying official patronage, out to destroy health resort | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, July 26: Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) has ostensibly turned a blind eye towards to the illegal constructions going at the famous health resort of Patnitop on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
According to the sources the illegal constructions are going on at a rapid pace in "No Construction Zone" opposite Rose Guest House.
On 1 February 2019 the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in an order had stated: "Pursuant to our order dated 27 December 2018, a status report stands filed i.e. Secretary to Government Tourism Department, J&K thereby informing us that 112 meeting of Forest Advisory Committee was held under the chairmanship of the J&K Chief Secretary wherein the issue of permitting the use of 0.175 hectares of Forest Land for construction of convention centre at Patnitop was taken up for consideration. The minutes of the meeting and the status report refers to the order passed in 1A No. 401 in case No. 202/1995 title Govind Ram versus Godvarman versus Union of India by the Supreme Court which records the statement of the Advocate General of the state that no further construction or conversion will be permitted at Patnitop till the ecological balance has been restored."
The order stated: "In view of the above, the proposal stands deferred. The Forest Advisory Committee has proposed to file an application seeking permission of the Supreme Court to construct the Convention Centre at Patnitop."
Sources said that according to the court direction the area falling within the radius of 1.5 km around Patnitop has been declared as no construction zone. "Despite clear cut directions from the court the PDA is allowing illegal construction at Patnitop within the 1.5 km radius,"they said, adding that "the PDA is resorting to delay tactics and is not submitting the status report in the High Court about constructions in Patnitop due to reasons best known to it."
Sources alleged that the PDA is trying to delay submission of the status report in the court to allow the under construction buildings to get completed. "The construction of a concrete structure opposite Rose Guest House is a clear violation of the High Court order. A top official of the PDA is facilitating the illegal construction," sources claimed.
"The Patnitop Development Authority is meant to ensure that no violations take place in Patnitop but it's unfortunate that PDA is facilitating illegal constructions. It has failed to implement the Master Plan for Patnitop. The Master Plan was prepared in the year 2000," sources added. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
