Despite Orders By HC, Administration, Authority Fails To Remove Illegal Construction On Middle of Road In Nigeen
SRINAGAR Will the encroachments raised by influential people be ever removed by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority?
Thats the question anxious house owner, Ali Mohammad Parray of Nigeen here, has been grappling with as the encroachment on macadamised road leading to Cherry Park (Nawabagh) on outskirts of Srinagar has not be removed by the enforcement wing of the LAWDA despite orders of the High Court as well as higher officers in the administration.
According to Parray, some influential businessmen raised an encroachment on the middle of the macadamised road, severely infringing upon his easements rights.
Soon, Parray submitted an application before LAWDA, urging the authority to get removed the encroachment, a tin shed raised by some influential people, mainly belonging to houseboat trade, near his residence.
As there was no action on part of the authority, Parray submits an application on 31 May 2017 to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, seeking directions to the concerned officers to remove the encroachment. The Divisional Commissioner seeks report within three days but no action qua illegal construction is taken by the officials.
Later Parray moves a fresh application to the Divisional Commissioner, again urging for removal of the encroachment.
The divisional commissioner forwards the application to the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, appending it with an order issued vide no. (Div Com/L-RS1016/17 dated 11-10-2017), directing removal of the encroachment.
On 24-10-2017, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar vide letter (ADC-R-Misc/pis/17/466-68) writes to VC LAWDA to take appropriate necessary action as warranted under norms and report the action taken along with the photographic evidence to his office.
No action is undertaken following which Parray writes an application to the then Tourism Minister, under whom LAWDA falls, seeking removal of the encroachment without further delay and action against the enforcement wing of LAWDA for failing to discharge duties. Parray also wrote an application to the Chief Secretary of the state but to no avail.
The High Court has already ordered removal of all illegal constructions in and around Nigeen and Dal Lakes. In addition to it, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, DC Srinagar and other officers ordered removal of the encroachment but no action is taken which is quite surprising and shocking, Parray says. He urged the governor administration to pass orders so that the encroachment was removed without further delay and that public confidence in law enforcing agencies was restored.
Meanwhile VC LAWDA, despite repeated attempts, could not be contacted for comment especially regarding Parrays query: Encroachment by influential people are too big to be removed by the LAWDA, residents believe.
LAWDA seals structure in Kral Sangri hills
The demolition drive was launched by the Lakes & Waterways Development Authority, through its enforcement wing in the area Lal Bazar, Kral Sangri, Vakeel colony Breine in which several structures raised in violation of High Court directions were demolished.
Also one structure was sealed at Kral Sangri hills and the demolition drive in Lal Bazar met resentment from locals resulting in the injuries to few officials.
In the meanwhile one tripper carrying illegal construction material was also seized and FIR was lodged accordingly in the concerned police station.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of Enforcement wing said that anybody who wants to inform the concerned authorities about encroachments and illegal constructions in their respective areas can also contact Suhail Hussain Reshi, Enforcement Officer (DY. SP), LAWDA.
According to Enforcement Officer at LAWDA, the demolition drive will continue with full vigour to remove all the illegal structures including palatial huts that have come up along the non-permissible zone in the catchment area of Dal Lake.
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