Srinagar, Dec 29: To prevent the water bodies in Srinagar from encroachment, the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority has demolished 516 structures, registered 160 FIRs were issued, and three structures were sealed.
Divulging details, chief enforcement officer LC&MA Abdul Aziz Qadri said these structures were sealed or demolished in the current year in a bid to stop the rise of illegal structures around the water bodies across Srinagar city.
In addition, the officer stated that FIRs were filed against repeat violators, and a few structures were sealed by the department’s enforcement wing.
The department has a clear directive not to allow a single illegal structure at any place around the water bodies, and the department is working tirelessly to curb the raising of structures at any location on the banks of lakes in the city.
Additionally, the department has started “An online verification process to prevent illegal building in Srinagar. However, despite the permission process’s ease of access, “The illegal or unlawful construction did not stop.”
People were complaining about delays in the process before the launch of the online Building permission process, but after its launch, the department was bound to provide permission in record time.
The people, on the other hand, claimed that the delay in the verification process is the main reason for the rise of illegal construction in Srinagar.The majority of people complain that they got a three-month delay in the verification process.
A senior official of the department told Rising Kashmir that they are doing their best to stop illegal constructions around the lakes; however, he said in many cases there are delays in demolition drives due to court orders.
On being asked why there is a delay in building permission, the officer said LC&MA is not the only department that has to provide permission. He said there are around seven other departments that have to check the credentials before issuing any permission.
