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| After Movera, constructions start in Overa valley | | Hotels, guesthouses coming up in wildlife buffer zone, authorities silent | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, June 11: After damaging sensitive areas of Pahalgam and its adjoining areas, the influential land mafia has now shifted its focus to virgin Overa valley, an area which borders the Aru-Overa wildlife sanctuary.
With the river gushing right through the middle of the Valley with dense forests surrounding the entire place, The Overa Valley is virgin, untouched and much more attractive than rest of the places of Pahalgam.
However, the influential land mafia has just begun to destroy this place as they did with Movera, Khelan, Gujran Batkoot, Srechin, Langanbal and Aru valley.
On Friday, a spot visit found concrete constructions coming up near the guest house of the Wildlife Protection Department locally known as Dak Banglow or Maharaja Hut.
Locals and laborers told Early Times that the structure was being raised by a Srinagar resident. “This guesthouse is owned by a Srinagar resident and we have been working here for the last twelve days,” labourers said.
They said that during the past twelve days no employee from any department told them to stop the work.
Wildlife Department employees said that they had alerted the department when the plinth of the structure was laid. “We conveyed it to our Block Forest Officer and Range Officer but they didn’t issue any directions to them,” an employee said.
Block Forest Officer Mohammad Ramzan said that they had stopped the work a few days back however, he (owner) claimed that he was raising construction on property land and the land in question was outside the wildlife sanctuary boundary.
Asked whether the guest house was coming up outside the buffer zone, the officer baffled and said that he will direct his employees to stop the work. “Wait I will tell my employees to stop the work,” he said.
Ranger Officer Pahalgam, Dildar Bhat said that he will personally visit the area to ascertain the facts.
In the month of April this year, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Piyush Singla issued a detailed order and directed Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pahalgam and Tehsildar Pahalgam to visit the area and stop the constructions.
He also directed Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pahalgam to submit details of illegal constructions along particulars of land and land owners besides detailed month-wise report regarding sale deed/gift deeds executed in last six months in villages including Overa.
SDM Pahalgam Naseer Ahmad said that he had submitted an interim report. He however said that there is no ban ‘blanket ban’ on constructions in the area.
“If the structure raised there is for commercial purposes then we will take action,” he said
While the Revised Master Plan 2032 says that the development in villages like Overa shall be regulated in accordance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the existing developments shall be dealt with as per the land use policy of Master Plan, however little attention is being paid to these areas.
In 2016, Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani altered Jammu and Kashmir Government and claimed that the area from Village Overa to Veersan could turn out to be another Movera as land mafia is targeting fragile regions by purchasing the land and later raising structures.
CEO PDA also wrote a letter to Chief Town Planner Kashmir and sought expert advice under letter number CEO/PDA/BOCA/984-9 dated 07-07-2016. "Keeping in view the topography of the land and land use plan of the area you are requested to provide your expert advice," a letter addressed to CTP reads.
The Overa Village, experts say, can be developed as an Ecotourism Zone with active involvement of the local population strictly in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act (1978).
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