Srinagar, Jan 4: The high-level committee constituted to report on Master Plan violations, which had identified over 1100 “illegal” buildings including those owned by “high profile people”, has shelved the probe following “political pressures” highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir.
 On 7th of last month, the Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand had directed the committee headed by Additional Commissioner, Ishtiaq Ahmed Ashai to file the report within three days. Even though a month has passed, the report is yet to reach the minister’s office.
 Sources said as the names of some politicians popped up in the list of offenders, the “blue eyed families started lobbying in the corridors of power.”
 “Finally, they pleaded before the Housing (and Urban development) Ministry that if action was to be taken then it should start from that on violations in Jammu province,” the sources said adding, after this, the committee was asked to slow down.
 “At first the committee was asked not to recommend demolition of any illegal building but, ‘corrective measures’ and file the report urgently. But subsequently, following more of pressures, the report was shelved to avoid any controversy,” said a senior official in the committee, requesting not to be named.
 The committee head declined to comment on the issue.
 “I am in a meeting. Call me after two days,” he said.
 When contacted, the Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the Housing and Urban Development portfolio refused that the report has been shelved.
 “The preliminary report was ready. But there were lots of violations. So I asked them (committee) to dig deeper and file a detailed report,” Tara told Greater Kashmir.
 The minister said he wouldn’t alone decide on the case of “large scale violations” but place it before the Cabinet.
 “I’ll table the detailed report before the Cabinet and ask them to decide future course of action,” he added.
 Pertinently when the report was understood to be in the final stage before being sent to the Deputy Chief Minister, Greater Kashmir had revealed that over 1100 “illegal structures” were identified in the City.
 Sources said most of the illegally constructed buildings fell in commercial category, particularly shopping complexes, constructed against the permissions for residential houses.
 On December 7, during his visit to the summer capital, the Deputy Chief Minister had asserted at a review meeting of the committee that strict action would be taken against officials “involved in or extending helping hand” to Master Plan violations.
 Along with details of the violations, the minister had sought list of officials who had permitted the “violations, encroachments and illegal constructions.”
 He also sought recommendations of action against the erring officials.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST