Politician’s son raises structure in wildlife land
Abrar A. Mattoo
SRINAGAR, Sep 1: In an act of blatant violation, Younis Gul, son of former legislative assembly speaker Mubarak Gul has raised a concrete structure in wildlife conservation reserve land at Dossani Nala, Shalimar.
Ironically, a similar structure at the same spot and allegedly owned by Younis Gul was last year demolished by Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) after Kashmir Despatch published a comprehensive report on the subject.
After a year’s lull, Younis has raised a concrete structure in the land that falls in Brain-Nishat wildlife conservation reserve and is additionally, a designated no-construction area within the jurisdiction of LAWDA.
According to a document accessed by Kashmir Despatch, the concerned forest warden has already reported the illegal construction to LAWDA and other enforcement authorities, but thus far, the government agencies have failed to take cognizance—which in turn points towards a very deep nexus between the concerned officials and the said encroacher of forest land.
“The Range Officer Dachigam has reported that one Shri Younis Gul Son of Mubarak Gul has again started the construction at Dossani Nala, Bonigam Shalimar. You are requested to kindly take cognizance of the issue please,” writes Wildlife Warden Central in a letter to Secretary LAWDA, a copy of which is in possession of Kashmir Despatch.
Though the local forest authorities have prevented the encroacher from continuing with his construction, the power to demolish the illegally raised construction lies with the LAWDA which is yet to take any concrete action.
When Kashmir Despatch reached on the spot to take the measure of the scale of the construction, the same did not appear so massive. However, the locals remarked that it was only with an intention to establish the possession that Younis Gul has kept the scale of his construction inconspicuous.
When Kashmir Despatch contacted Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Aziz Qadri, enforcement officer of LAWDA, the officer said that his department has not ascertained it yet whether there is any construction being raised on the said land by any encroacher. The officer said that he would soon visit the site himself and take note of the violation—if any.
However, a native of the area told Kashmir Despatch: “It remains to be seen whether the same cosmetic and in name only demolition would be carried out again as the last year, or the authorities would show some belligerence and take the necessary action.”
Pleading anonymity, a senior officer in the forest department told Kashmir Despatch: “In my opinion, the government is not serious about dealing with the political bigwigs, and the land mafia, which consists of bureaucrats, rich and influential people. On one hand, the government reiterates that it is serious on retrieving encroached land and holding off the plunderers of public property, but on the other hand, it turns a blind eye to grave matters such as these.”
He added: “It is a matter of grave concern that city forest land is being allowed to grab under the nose of the administration of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Pertinently, last year, on 25 July, 2020 the LAWDA had claimed to have demolished the illegal construction on the same land by the same person, surprisingly, it has come to light that currently, the encroacher was raising the construction over and above the same construction that he was forced to leave unfinished the previous year.
Last year also a letter was shot by the wildlife warden central division Srinagar to vice chairman LAWDA seeking demolition of illegal construction at Nishat Conservation reserve. “As reported by the Range Officer, Dachigam that Sh. Younis Gul son of Mubarak Gul resident of Srinagar has un-authorizedly raised some concrete structure at Dossani Nala, Bonigam-Shalimar which falls within Brain-Nishat wildlife conservation reserve and also falls within LAWDA jurisdiction,” read the letter number WLWC/Estt/2020-21/787-89 dated July 22, 2020.
Through this letter, the wildlife warden central division Srinagar had sought directions from the VC LAWDA to his subordinate office (enforcement wing) to initiate cognizance in the matter.
However, when Kashmir Despatch contacted Mubarak Gul, National Conference senior leader and former Speaker had feigned complete ignorance. Gul had told Kashmir Despatch, “I don’t know about this issue. I think I will have to check why our names have been mentioned in the letter shot by the wildlife department. There is some confusion which needs to be removed.”
As per the J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978, no person is allowed to destroy or damage or divert the habitat (conservation reserve land) or even enhance the flow of water into or outside the conservation reserve not to talk of raising concrete structures.
“Provided that any minor forest produce so removed for the betterment of the conservation reserve, may be used for meeting the personal bonafide needs of the people living in and around the conservation reserve and shall not be used for commercial purposes, either by the government or the recipient local people,” reads the J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978.
A senior officer in the department of forest while talking to Kashmir Despatch said, “When the government itself is not authorized to use the minor produce from the conservation reserve for commercial gains, how, can the government allow the brazen violation of wildlife norms by facilitating concrete structures within the wildlife reserves puts a question mark on the J&K government’s functioning.”
Sources said that there is a deep rooted nexus involving black sheep within LAWDA, Revenue, Police, Wildlife and Forest departments who are hand in glove in facilitating huge encroachments on wildlife and forest land in the green belt area which falls within the jurisdiction of LAWDA.
