Srinagar, July 24, KDC: Following widespread reports of rampant unauthorized commercial buildings springing up across the city, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has announced a major escalation in its enforcement operations.
Addressing the issue of illegal commercial properties, SMC Commissioner Fazl-ul-Haseeb said the Corporation is actively taking action wherever reports of unauthorized constructions are received.
The Commissioner announced that the Corporation’s demolition drives will be significantly intensified over the next three to five days. He further said that the Chief Enforcement Officer and enforcement staff have already identified several “hotspots” across the city where these intensified demolition drives will be carried out.
When asked about possible intervention by other agencies like ACB in connection with these illegal constructions, the Commissioner welcomed the move. He said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation would take all action within its mandate. However, if any other agency also wishes to act on the matter, “there is no problem” with it.
The Commissioner’s remarks come amid a massive surge in commercial constructions across several localities of Srinagar over the past few months.
This unchecked construction activity has sparked growing demands from residents for an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe, with allegations that the illegal commercial structures have caused a massive loss to the State exchequer. Residents allege that many builders have bypassed mandatory Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) permissions and fees, allowing commercial structures to be constructed without depositing the requisite charges, thereby depriving the Corporation and the government of substantial revenue.
Internal sources within the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) disclosed to the news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the Chief Enforcement Officer has recommended immediate disciplinary action against the concerned ward officers, building inspectors and supervisors over alleged lapses in enforcement. However, despite the recommendation, no official has been suspended or attached so far, raising questions over the Corporation’s commitment to ensuring accountability.
Sources further alleged that the failure to act against unauthorized commercial constructions has resulted in a substantial loss to the State exchequer, as mandatory SMC permissions and building fees were allegedly bypassed, depriving the Corporation of significant revenue.
Earlier, enforcement teams detected numerous cases involving major deviations from sanctioned building plans. These included unauthorized additional floors, the commercial use of buildings approved for residential purposes, encroachment on mandatory setbacks, and construction beyond the sanctioned building footprint. (KDC)
