The rapid urbanization marked with erection of lofty mega structures and residential colonisation of the city peripheries in summer capital Srinagar is being considered as a symbol of progress and development. But there is a serious catch in this kind of mindset that is often dealt with sloppiness.
Most of these constructions and rapid inhabitations are being carried out on wet lands, green zones and agricultural land. This is sheer violation to the law.
In Srinagar alone, we see huge multi-storeyed buildings constructed at the immediate bank of river Jhelum while festooned hotels and lavish restaurants continue to pour waste into the world renowned Dal. Even various ‘tourist resorts’ have been illegally constructed at the peripheries of Shalimar and Harwan over grazing lands.
However, the areas demarcated in the recent Srinagar City Master Plan Report (2035) as city forest covers and flood spill channels, especially from Pampore (bypass road) to Lasjan, has numerous business edifices that were constructed years before despite having clear prohibitions.
The silent approval of these illegal constructions is a blot on the successive governments wherein rich, influential and the ones close to power corridors enjoyed great impunity while as poor families had to face immense harassment, even demolition, for constructing a one-room structure for their children.
Regrettably, such dereliction of duty and abuse of authority continues to this very day. May it be Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg or any other tourist destination, there are clear directions from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that bars all types of constructions
Ever-so-often, the newspapers and media platforms are jam-packed with advertisements announcing the opening of new hotels at these restricted places. Shamefully, it is too easy to silence the concerned voices who care about the rule of law while it is equally hard to kill the virus of corruption in our social fabric.
Astonishingly, even after complaints against the owners of these illegal structures all we witness is a lackadaisical attitude of the concerned officials or in some rare cases a flimsy and cosmetic demolition.
Unless, the rational and responsible citizens of our society stand against this vicious menace that is eating into the vitals of our society, we will be sooner witnessing magnanimous hotels built in the middle of Dal Lake and unending colonies into the expanse of forests covers of Chatterhama.
