The Hindu : Demolition of encroachments will go on: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 02, 2003

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Demolition of encroachments will go on: Minister

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU FEB. 1. Despite the alleged pressure exerted by a section of influential people, the coalition Government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has not shown any sign of relenting in demolishing thousands of illegal encroachments in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir Valley.

Encouraged by the unprecedented response from the general public, the Government is all set to take on the "big guns" of the city by removing the illegal constructions on Boulevard Road adjoining the banks of the Dal Lake.

The period of notices given to the owners of dozens of hotels and commercial complex on the beautiful road leading to the Mughal gardens has expired and, according to an official, "as they have failed to pay heed to our requests the bulldozers are on the way to uproot these buildings".

Voluntary removals

In the past fortnight, the demolition drive, under the supervision of the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir, has yielded "good results" with many people coming forward to remove the encroachments voluntarily. When government agencies started the campaign from the posh Hyderpora locality along the Airport Road, many people were not expecting a logical conclusion to this politically sensitive decision. Though apprehensions still remain, the general public has supported the Government. "We are surprised how the people had grabbed government land and the city was being reduced to a slum now," said Farooq Ahmed, a resident accusing the business community of fleecing the public on all fronts.

At the same time, the people demand action against those officials who allowed lawlessness to flourish by "accepting huge bribes".

Many people allege that a "handsome amount" is given to the heads of demolition agencies to "safeguard their illegal property". But the Minister said there was no question of going back on the campaign and whosoever was involved in illegal constructions would be dealt with strongly". He admitted that an unholy nexus existed between police and officials of the demolition agencies but "let us first demolish the encroachments and later tackle that problem".

The Government in the second phase is taking up the drive on similar lines in Jammu, the winter capital.

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