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| Axe all set to fall on officers, officials who facilitated encroachment of water bodies, state land | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 4: The axe is all set to fall on the officers and officials of the different government departments who facilitated the encroachment of water bodies and state land in the Srinagar district following which constructions were raised on water bodies and state land.
Sources told Early Times that district administration of Srinagar has taken a strong note of the rampant encroachment of Khushhalsar Lake carried out by the people over the past three decades or so. It is due to this reason that Khushhalsar has on date been converted into a residential colony spread over a huge area.
“Directions have been issued to the officers on ground to hold a probe in the matter and see how far the officials have gone while helping the ‘greedy’ to encroach the water bodies and state land. Without official support it is not possible that dozens would encroach on the water body and then carry out the constructions over the same,” said sources.
The administration of district Srinagar swung into action on February 1 removing 25 encroachments including structures and compounds and retrieving over 30 kanals of lake area. The step was long overdue following extensive preparations over the last few months during which relevant formalities - including inspections and verifications and issuance of notices to encroachers - were completed.
“In the light of these illegal constructions having taken place without requisite building permissions Deputy Commissioner Srinagar has ordered the district police to investigate the matter and look into possible official involvement in illegal construction of residential structures in the lake area,” said sources.
Sources said the district administration has resolved that anti-encroachment drive will continue non-stop until all of over 300 identified encroachments are removed and all encroached parts of the lake area are retrieved. It is notable that identified encroachments in Khushhalsar lake area include around 80 illegally built residential houses where people live.
The other 220-odd encroachments are in the forms of fenced landholdings and plinths and sheds. These also include under-construction structures. The encroachers who have built residential houses in the lake area have been served several eviction notices during the last several months.
Khushhalsar lake was once a vast and thriving water body with clear water and thriving vegetation — and acted as a source of livelihood for many. But today the lake is in highly deteriorated condition having been encroached upon at many places with illegal construction and land filling. |
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