KD Correspondent
As the administration is busy with tackling the pandemic, some people are taking advantage of the situation by resorting to illegal constructions in Sopore towsnhip of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Sources said that the temporary shops are being turned into concrete ones, new constructions galore in the town and in outskirts even as Municipal Council Sopore which is responsible for stopping these acts, is silent over the illegal construction.
Sources privy to Kashmir Despatch said that MCS officials are hand in glove with these shopkeepers who are taking advantage of the situation and are indulging in illegal constructions.
“The Municipal Council officials are in hand in glove with these violators and COVID-19 pandemic is just a cover. The officials are well aware of the situation but they are not stopping the illegal construction. Few officials have even issued papers for the construction”, sources added.
Reports reaching in from several areas of Sopore said that at several places in the town shopping complexes and houses are being constructed illegally without building permission.
As per the reports, few top officials of Municipal Council Sopore and an officer who served his term earlier at Sopore are said to be involved in the scam.
Earlier netizens reacted to the few pictures that went viral about the illegal construction going on in and around Sopore under the full gaze of Municipal Council Sopore.
Reports said that officials of Municipal Council Sopore are involved in the illegal constructions.
A netizen taking to microblogging site Twitter wrote, “These are the pictures of illegal construction going on in Sopore. What about the shopping malls and complexes constructed earlier. There should be an official inquiry into it.”
Another local from Sopore wrote on Facebook, “These scams were hidden from public gaze. Now there should be proper probe into the scams and mismanagements happening around in Sopore. Officer found involved should be dealt strictly.”
It is pertinent to mention that past few years the illegal construction has galore in Sopore township with the concerned departments taking no concrete action.
Meanwhile, Director Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Masoma Mathoor when contacted said will look into the matter.
Additional Deputy Commission Sopore Parvaiz Sajad Ganai said if anyone found involved strict action will be taken.
