Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Jal Shakti and Irrigation and Flood Control Department has issued notices to residents in Kursoo Rajbagh asking them to demolish their houses that have been termed as ‘illegal’.
The notices have been served to several residents of the area who have been living there for last at least 50 years. The notices that have been served have come as a shocker to them as the department has asked them to dismantle their structures within 5 days.
One such notice, issued by the Assistant Executive Engineer, I&FC Sub-Division Sonwar, to one Sheikh Tariq Ahmad a resident of Kursoo Rajbagh clearly asks the addressee to remove the structure within 5 days.
“Since your illegal structure figures in the list of encroachers on left side of River Jhelum is to be removed. As such you are once again directed to remove your illegal structure within 5 days yourself, failing which your illegal structure will be dismantled and removed at your risk and cost,” the notice stated.
The residents said that almost the entire area of Kursoo Rajbagh-on the left side of the River Jhelum-has been given such notices telling them that their structures-which includes residential structures and others-have been illegally constructed and need to be removed.
“Almost 50 families have been given such notices so far and it is being said that they will be sending the notices to others as well,” a resident Sheikh Tariq Ahmad said.
He said that he has been living in the area for the last 60 years and many others whom he knows have been living there for 60 years, some have been living there for last around 100 years.
The sudden move of the I&FC department has taken the residents aback and there is a sense of worry and anger. “Which law is this that your structures are declared illegal all of a sudden and on top of it, you are given 5 days to dismantle the same,” the residents said.
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