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| Municipality president halts beautification works | | Pahalgam: PDA-MCP at loggerheads | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, June 15: The friction between Pahalgam Development Authority and Municipal Committee Pahalgam has resurfaced as the president of municipality has stopped execution of works initiated by Pahalgam Development Authority to beautify banks of River Lidder.
Pahalgam Municipality President Rayees Ahmad Lone has written to Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority and asked him to seek ‘consent’ from him before executing the works.
Lone in his letter says that the development authority has already developed Sakhi Pathri Island in 2012-13 and spent huge amount on it.
“...came to know that your Department has started developing it again without seeking consent from the undersigned/ward member,” reads the letter.
He has asked CEO PDA to furnish details related to the works within two days. “In 2012 PDA wasted the money but this time i will not allow them to waste the money again” Lone told Early Times.
He alleged that contractors executing the works were using heavy machinery for excavating material (gravels) from the protected areas of river Lidder. “How they (contractors) can go for excavation in river Lidder,” he asked.
He has also written to Director Fisheries and asked him to initiate action against the contractor, who according to him was excavating gravels from precious River Lidder.
Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani told Early Times that Municipality President was acting at the behest of land encroachers against whom they have started the drive. “He is habitual of unnecessarily interfering into developmental works we initiate at Pahalgam. On one day he stops our works and then quietly allows contractors to resume it” the CEO said.
He said that the PDA was constructing an alternate pony track on the directions of the High Court. “ We are constructing alternate pony track to restrict the movement of ponies in the market “ he added.
He said that they were not raising constructions but strengthening river banks and beautifying parks as per the Pahalgam Master Plan.
“We are just creating more space for tourists and Amaranth Pilgrims,” he said, adding that the works initiated by PDA were duly approved by the Government.
The CEO PDA said that he hasn’t received any letter from the Municipality President, however maintained that the municipality has no authority to stop the works as these are being executed as per the provisions of Master Plan and as per the directions of the Hon’ble High Court.
“All parks and recreational points are established on river bank at Pahalgam hence PDA is supposed to develop them by way of turfing, beautifying river banks and taking all measures to prevent river banks,” he said, adding that the park in question has suffered damages during 2014 floods and needs to be developed likewise Sereen Park and Theme Park on Lidder river banks.
The CEO said that despite facing stiff resistance from anti-social elements, PDA has successfully managed established to Solid Waste Unit and Sweage Treatment Plant at Pahalgam. “Step taken by Municipal Committee will prove disastrous for the area and it will force us to divert money to other vicinities,” he added.
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