Political-bureaucratic-businessmen nexus behind violations

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Government has given permission for construction of multi-storey Nursing Home on the National Highway (NH-44) in Anantnag district of South Kashmir in violation of its own order in which ban has been imposed on the constructions along the newly constructed Highway.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, last year banned (vide Order No: DivCom/LAS/1566(E)/2827 dated: 17-06-2017) constructions on either-side of the Highway. But it has allowed the constructions of a multi-storey Nursing Home at Semthan in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district to one Khursheed Ahmad Zargar son of Ghulam Qadir Zargar of Bijbehara.
The permission of the Nursing Home was initiated by the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag despite knowing that there is blanket ban on the constructions on the newly constructed highway and that too on agricultural land. The Deputy Commissioner (vide his letter No. DCB/SQ/17/584 dated 05-07-2017) recommended the case of the applicant to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir along side all NOC’s/Revenue Extracts after obtaining the NOC’s from all concerned Departments in terms of Government Order (No. 138 REV (S) of 2016 dated 07-10-2016) on change of land use.
The Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag in the letter has intimated the Divisional Commissioner that his office has no objection if permission is granted in favour of the Zargar for conversion of agriculture land (measuring 11.5 Marlas, under survey No. 178 min) at village Semthan, Bijbehara, in Anantnag required for construction Nursing Home.
The Divisional Kashmir (vide No. Divcom/LRS/99-F/250/17 dated: 27-10/2017) recommended the case to the Administrative Department duly endorsing the recommendations of Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, for grant of permission to the proposed change of the land use.
“The case has been examined in the department and it has been found that the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag has recommended the case after obtaining the NOC’s from all concerned Departments in terms of Government order No. 138 REV(S) of 2016 dated 07-10-2016”, read the permission granted to Zargar for Nursing Home.
Tehsildar Bijbehara, Ishfaq Ahmad, told Excelsior that after he took over in April this year, he has stopped the work on the Nursing Home as the building permission seems to be vague. “For last three months, there is no construction on the building as the permission granted is confusing. So there is status quo”, he said.