SDA demolishes illegal structure in Sonamarg

Srinagar, July 16: In a swift action to uphold environmental regulations, the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) on Wednesday carried out a demolition drive against an illegal structure that was being secretly constructed.Reports said the unauthorized building was detected and demolished thanks to the SDA’s round-the-clock monitoring.The structure owner had allegedly attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to bypass environmental and legal guidelines an act in clear defiance of the High Court-imposed ban on all construction activities in the ecologically sensitive Sonamarg region.The SDA field staff responded promptly and ensured that the illegal structure was removed without delay,” officials in the press statement said, adding that such acts will not be tolerated. The official reiterated the authority’s firm commitment to preserving Sonamarg’s fragile ecosystem, warning that all violators will face strict legal action.The demolition comes at a time when concerns are growing about rampant illegal construction in the Sonamarg area and adjacent locations of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, despite a blanket ban imposed by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in 2017. The court had prohibited all construction activities to preserve the natural landscape and ecological balance of  Sonamarg.Locals have raised serious questions about how construction materials are being transported into Sonamarg, despite the presence of two checkpoints. “If there is a complete ban and constant surveillance, how is it possible that cement, bricks, and iron reach these sites unchecked?” questioned a resident.Areas including Bardparden near the petrol pump, Rezan, and several points along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, particularly those near the Sindh Nallah, have reportedly witnessed unabated illegal constructions. Concerned citizens claim that even the Revenue and Flood Control departments are ignoring these activities, despite clear guidelines prohibiting any construction within 100 meters of the Sindh river.Notices have been issued in some areas, but no concrete action has followed. Waste from these illegal structures is directly flowing into the river, contaminating it and threatening local biodiversity, said an environmental activist.Residents allege that while ordinary citizens are denied permission for minor repairs or house construction, influential individuals continue to build commercial structures with impunity.The alarming developments have prompted locals to appeal to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for urgent intervention to safeguard Sonamarg’s and other areas of the Sub Division Kangan environment and to hold accountable those responsible for flouting the court’s orders.Sonamarg is not just a tourist destination it is an ecological treasure. If these violations are not stopped immediately, the damage may become irreversible,” said a resident of the area