Land grab, illegal construction case surfaces in Yusmarg

Srinagar: In a shocking case of land grab and illegal development of a commercial business venture in Yusmarg, a concrete building is being quietly built during the post-August 2019 lockdown period in Yusmarg, Budgam.

Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Tariq Ahmad Ganai, has ordered an inquiry about the matter and report the findings by Wednesday, March 18. Irrigation and Flood Control Department has also ordered a separate probe.

Barely one kilometre from the Tourist Reception Centre of Yusmarg in the main Yusmarg Road at Nagbal, the illegal construction of the commercial complex has come to fore after local villagers alerted the district authorities about its clandestine work undertaken under of cover of snowfall and the lockdown months between August and December.

Pertinently, the Ribbon Development Act and the Yusmarg Master Plan envisage several guidelines to be fulfilled for any commercial project in the area to preserve the pristine natural environment of the area. The project, said to have received government subsidy, has not abided by the basic environmental safeguards.

“Some people are saying it is a hotel. Some people are saying it is a meditation centre. We dont know who is the owner of the project. All we know is that work was started soon after the August turmoil and it has just been resumed after the melting of the snow”, a local said.

When contacted, Yusmarg Development Authority officials expressed ignorance about the construction of the building, and are considering ordering a probe about how such a building had come up in the protected area without following the due process.

Interestingly, when Ziraat Times team reached the owner of the land, Z.A. Bhat, as mentioned in the digital revenue records, he categorically denied having come up with the project or having approached the Industries Department for subsidy or seeking permission from the Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA).

“I do not refute being the owner of the land, however, the said piece of land has been under sale process with one person namely B. Bashir of Srinagar. Since full price of the land has not been received so far, the title of ownership is still in my name and the prospective buyer has, naturally, not registered the sale deed. I am compleyely shocked that the prospective buyer has started construction of a building on the said land without information to me and my cosent”, said Mr Bhat.

Revenue Department officials in Budgam said that any construction in the YDA jurisdiction area meant for commercial use is supposed to receive NOCs from relevant departments. “And, naturally, that cannot happen without land registration and the land being in the name of the proposee promoter”, they maintain.

“There has to be a proper inquiry as to how the project received subsidy approval, how NOCs were granted for the construction of the building (If at all) and how such construction has been allowed on a land not registered in the name of the promotor of the project”, said a legal expert.

Interestingly, the building is being constructed adjacent to a crucial irrigation canal, and the tons of snow that are likely to slide down the building roof could block the waters of the canal.

Moreover, the waste generated during the construction is going right into the canal, posing a risk to its water flow too.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department told Ziraat Times that their staff had not reported the case to the higher ups in time, and that action will soon be initiated.

“We will initiate legal action if any NOCs have been issued by PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Environment Department without following due process.

“In this case the building is quite close to the Irrigation canal and the waste from the toilets and washrooms of the building has no way to go other than seeping into the water canal”, a senior official told Ziraat Times.

Meanwhile, local activists are approaching the court to seek dismantling of the building.

(Updated: 0900 hours, 17 March, 2020)