Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: The High Court today directed against construction activity in Sonamarg tourist resort without permission from the Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA) and the court approval.
The Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice M A Chowdhary made it clear that no construction shall be raised in Sonamarg or any repairs to the existing buildings carried out unless the building permission is granted by the BOCA, Sonmarg and is approved by this Court.
The court directed that all constructional activities in Sonamarg area shall be strictly as per the Master Plan of 2005-2025 till the new Master Plan is finalized and published in public domain.
The court after perusal of the affidavit filed by the Chief Executive Officer, Sonamarg, said the construction activity in the SDA area is presently being regulated by the Master Plan of Sonamarg for the year 2005 to 2025 and that the new Master Plan for the year 2025 to 2040 is under process with the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir.
Court in this regard has sought fresh affidavits from CEO Sonamarg and Chief Town Planner Kashmir indicating the steps taken by them to finalize the Master Plan 2025 to 2040.
The Chief Executive Officer has been directed to submit the latest status report about all the construction activities presently going on within the Sonamarg Development Authority area and the permissions if any granted, by the BOCA, Sonamarg.
“A copy of such permissions shall also be filed along with the status report”, read the court direction.
It may be mentioned here that the BOCA cleared the construction of a hotel of an influential Kashmiri businessman by violating the Supreme Court guidelines, High Court directions and overruling the observations made by the two important members of the Authority.
As per the official records, there were 25 applications for repair and fresh constructions but only one fresh construction of an influential businessman was approved.
The permission became controversial as it was granted despite opposition from the Regional Director Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing and Chief Town Planner Kashmir.
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