Kashmir, trapped in curfew, separatist-shutdowns and challenged government, is fast falling victim to encroachment and illegal construction.
Kashmir, trapped in curfew, separatist-shutdowns and challenged government, is fast falling victim to encroachment and illegal construction.
In and around Srinagar’s Dal and Nigeen lakes, dozens of illegal constructions have come up on encroached land or on land over which, dwellers have ownership rights.
Some people have filled the water bodies and linking channels with earth to create tiny islands to raise structures on or turn them into vegetable fields.
Already, the twin lakes have plenty of floating vegetable and flower gardens. Residents said that truckloads of rocks, bricks, sand and cement are being dispatched to the area in the dead of the night when security forces have withdrawn from streets and then ferried deep inside the lakes in small boats.
Under normal conditions, police and enforcement staff of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), keep an eye on such activities. The J&K high court has on more than one occasion pulled up its officials for the ineptitude and leniency officials exhibited.
Following complaints, chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, replaced LAWDA’s vice-chairman last month.
It is not just in Srinagar that illegal activities have been reported.
The woods of north and northwest Kashmir are being vandalized by smugglers who cut down trees and take them out during night.
The J&K high court had asked authorities to take stern action against those involved. Separatists are also aghast at the behaviour of such people and have warned them against using the current situation to their benefit for illegal activities.
Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is part of a recently formed ‘issue-based’ loose alliance of separatists spearheading the protest campaign, said, “We’ve also received reports that unauthorised and illegal constructions are coming up at various places particularly in the Dal area and along the Foreshore Road. It is disgusting. Such activities must be stopped,” he said.
Statements issued by the government on Thursday sought people’s cooperation in removing encroachments.
It said that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and LAWDA launched a demolition drive in the summer capital three days ago.
