CJ’s directions violated
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Under the garb of repairs, two huts in ecologically fragile Gulmarg have been dismantled and are being replaced by multi-storey column structures being constructed in violations of the High Court directions and permissions granted by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA).
Taking advantage of clampdown, two huts – Green Tree Lodge and Khilan Hut – in Gulmarg have been dismantled and are being re-constructed when the High Court in its order has directed for repairs of these huts and not re-construction.
In June this year, the CEO GDA asked them to stop work (Vide order No 07 GDA of2019 dated 19th June 2019) on the huts after Registrar Judicial gave verbal directions to the CEO over these illegal constructions.
However, they approached the High Court on 23-08-2019 and it directed that the owner of the Khilan hut should be allowed to conduct the necessary repairs. “…we permit the applicant to complete the repairs as permitted by the order No. 03 GDA of 2019 dated 20th May 2019…”, the order read.
As per the GDA order (vide order no. 03 GDA of 2019 dated 20th May 2019) the owner of the Khilan Hut was granted permission to carry out repairs and renovation. But the photographs of June this year when the work was stopped show the hut was intact and now there is a multi-storey column structure that has come in last two months in gross violations of HC order and permission granted by the GDA.
High Court also directed that the owner of the Green Tree Lodge should be allowed to conduct the repairs. “…we permit the applicant to complete the repairs as permitted by the order No. 02 GDA of 2019 dated 16th May 2019…”, said the order. Under the GAD order, the owner of the Green Tree Lodge was allowed to conduct necessary repairs of the hut and not re-construction.
The Green Tree Lodge was a single storey structure in June this year when the work on it was stopped. Now it is a two storey column structure and work for third storey is in progress. The construction has been raised in violation of the HC orders and GDA permission.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GDA, Inamul Haq when asked about the illegal constructions of huts in place of repairs said that there is ambiguity in BOCA order as there are no dimensions and site plan details. However, when asked about that the HC order mentions repairs and not the re-construction, he said: “I will see if there is any violation. We will take action”.
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