Srinagar, Nov 30: A family from Alamgeeri Bazar in Srinagar had planned to move into their new home just a few days before the encroachment wing of the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority department demolished their double-storey house “illegally.”
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, the family said they had constructed the house five years ago and were now filling the yard of the new house. However, according to them, the neighbour raised a query, and subsequently, the matter was shifted to court. The court, after the due procedure, gives us permission in our favour.
Before this demolition drive, the LC&MA tried to demolish the house but were stopped by the police on court orders. However, on Wednesday, a team of LCMA and SMC officers forcefully entered the premises and razed the house to the ground.
“They chose a time when no one from the family was present on the occasion, said Adil Hussian. We came to know about it when our neighbours called us.”
The family claims that while constructing the house, they followed every legal procedure. “Despite that, the department bulldozed our house.”
The family is now asking why their house was demolished now when the work on the house was going on forthe last five years.
According to the family, the department not only demolished their structure and left a joint family in distress but also violated the court order.
“We are a huge family and spent our whole life savings on the construction of this house, but the “illegal” drive in which our house was demolished has shattered us,” said Nisar Ahmad Mir.
The peak winter is coming, and we are shattered. Where will we go? We have small children; how can we manage them? asks Ahmad.
It is important to note that shortly after the house was reduced to rubble by the LCMA and SMC departments, social media widely criticised the authorities and questioned the department as to why the poor man’s structures were razed to the ground while the influential people are illegally raising their structures without fear.
The family has urged the LG to investigate the incident and allow them to rebuild their homes and has asked for his assistance in obtaining the necessary permissions.
When tried to contact the officials of the concerned department, they declined to comment on the issue.
