Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 19: As the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) tightened its grip against illegal constructions in and around the Dal lake in Srinagar, residents today held protest against them.
Vice Chairman, LAWDA, Sarmand Hafiz told Excelsior that the Authority has stopped illegal constructions and put its foot down. He said that during last four months, 220 illegal constructions were demolished by the LAWDA and no illegal constructions were allowed.
Sarmand said that LAWDA has registered over 100 FIRs with police against the illegal constructions by people in the prohibited areas and for carrying material to the areas where constructions are banned.
The Nishat area on city outskirts today observed shut down against LAWDA over what they said disallowing raising height of structures.
Shops and commercial establishments were closed in Nishat and its adjoining localities while the transport was partially affected. The locals said that the behavior of the LAWDA authorities have forced them to come on the streets and observe shutdown.
“The LAWDA authorities are behaving like dictators by not allowing us to raise the height of our structures. If this situation continues we will come on streets and hold protests and every kind of responsibility would lie on LAWDA,” said the protesters.
The VC LAWDA said that they will grant permission for the constructions in permissible area on fast track. He said that LAWDA is ready to address the genuine issues of the people but the Authority will implement the court directions.
Sarmand, however, said that no constructions would be allowed in the areas 200 meters from the bank of the Dal and Nageen lakes as per High Court directions.
The VC said that there is a green belt around the lake where the constructions are not allowed and LAWDA will not allow any constructions in those areas.
Sarmand said that LAWDA has come hard against illegal constructions and police have even installed CCTV cameras to keep watch on constructions. He said that besides police have established nakas at various places to check the ferrying of construction material illegally.
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