Pahalgam, Dec 23: In brazen violation of master plan, some highly influential persons are continuing with constructions in the ecologically fragile zones of this world famous tourist resort as the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) is allegedly acting as a mute spectator.
 Sources say that an influential person recently sought the ‘renovation and repair’ permission of his guest house in Laripora area which had only three rooms and a kitchen, but went on to construct a three-storey concrete building with 25 rooms.
 The person, sources say, has flouted all building permission norms and went ahead with the construction without the permission of the Building and Control Authority (BOCA).
 “The guest house has come up barely 10 feet from Lidder river which again is a clear violation of master plan as it should have been at least 150 feet away,” sources said adding that the sewage generated from the guest house would directly pour into the river and disturb its flora and fauna.
 Two other influential persons, according to the sources, have recently constructed a huge structure after seeking the permission for ‘renovation and repair’ of their shops in the main market near Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
 They said that the lease agreement of these shops has already expired way back in 1983 and despite that they have managed to construct a structure in the area which falls under green belt in the master plan.
 Furthermore, they added that the structure has come up barely few meters away from the PDA office.
 Sources say that PDA employees were working hand in glove with the offenders by allowing the construction material to be dumped and in turn make some easy bucks.
 The locals are up in arms against the PDA for, what they said, unnecessarily threatening them of demolishing structures in their residential areas while allowing constructions by some influential people in forest zones without even bothering to look if they have got the required NOCs from various departments.
 Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PDA, Mir Altaf said, “The PDA has not given permission to anyone for construction of any structure. I would look into the matter,” said Mir.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST