Srinagar: Just a half-a-kilometre from the office of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), a six-storey commercial complex is being built “in open violation of rules, against a court’s stay order” at Amira Kadal in city centre Lal Chowk, a complaint sent to the SMC Commissioner as well as to the Srinagar Deputy Commissioner says.
“It is pertinent to note that the fifth and the sixth floor of the said complex, which were erected during the lockdown, are illegal and in violation of the building bye-laws, in as much as it (sic) is a threat to public life at large because it has weakened the very foundation of the building and has therefore become a public hazard,” reads the complaint, written by a trio of shop owners in the area – MA Gojwari and Sons, The Afzal and Co, and MS Gojwari and Co.
The complaint of illegal construction has been made against three brothers, Manzoor Ahmad Baba, Nisar Ahmad Baba, and Aijaz Ahmad Baba.
The complainants have also accused the Baba brothers of digging a bore well on the public footpath, without obtaining any sanction from the irrigation department.
“This is also a public hazard as the same has weakened the footpath and may result in sinking of the public footpath’s surface,” the complaint letter, a copy of which is with Kashmir Reader, says.
The complaint mentions that a court has issued a stay order against the construction of the commercial complex. “The court’s stay order has been brazenly disregarded by the violators,” Shabir Gojwari, one of the complainants, told Kashmir Reader.
A team constituted by the DC office will visit the site soon for inspection, he added.
“It is unfortunate that this construction has been going on in broad daylight in violation of laws. Such is the disregard for law that they don’t even care about the court’s stay order. Some officials of the SMC had earlier come, but it has not stopped their work,” Gojwari said.
Nisar Ahmad Baba told Kashmir Reader that during the pandemic they have not done any new construction of the building, but have been doing interiors only after the administration gave permission for it.
“We have the permission for the work, and we have done all construction accordingly. The court’s stay order is being respected in letter and spirit,” he said. Asked about the bore well-constructed on the public footpath, he said, “The bore well was made for temporary purpose because there was shortage of water. It will be shut down very soon.”
SMC’s Chief Enforcement Officer Syed Nisar told Kashmir Reader that they have taken cognisance of the complaint, but the case is in court.
“The law will take its course,” Nisar said.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz