Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 1: In view of recent illegal constructions in Gulmarg by the hoteliers in the name of repairs, High Court today formed a two member committee to look into such constructions and the permissions issued to these hotels.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar while dealing with an application with regard to recent illegal constructions raised by some hoteliers at the famous tourist resort Gulmarg in contravention of building permission and High Court directions, formed a two member committee comprising a retired Sessions Judge Abdul Rashid Bhat and Advocate Nisar Ahmad Bhat.
The Court asked them to examine the documents issued to these hotels with regard to raising any kind of construction on these hotels.
Court has also put on halt any kind of construction in the area. It is after the serious note taken by the Chief Justice about these illegal constructions, Registrar Judicial last week inspected Gulmarg and directed for stopping of all constructions in the area.
The Hotels which were found to be carrying out illegal constructions in contravention to the permission granted are Hotel City Centre, Hotel Pride Resorts, Hotel Khilanhat, Hotel Pride Inn, Hotel City View, Hotel Pine Palance, Hilltop and Royal Castle and after on the spot inspection by the court officials headed by Registrar Judicial, they were directed to stop all constructions till further orders.
It may be mentioned here that Deputy Commissioner Baramulla also ordered inquiry into illegal constructions and sought report from the committee formed by him after Excelsior exclusively reported about massive illegal constructions in Gulmarg.
Excelsior had on June 15 carried the news about massive constructions under the garb of repair works in Gulmarg by these hotels which belonged to well known businessmen and politicians. These constructions have been carried out despite ban by the High Court.
Not only this, these hoteliers have also killed thousands of pine trees around their hotels in Gulmarg for land grab and illegal constructions.
Thousands of trees in Gulmarg bowl mostly around hotels have dried up over the years as the hoteliers are using various methods to kill the pine trees around their hotels.
They use acid, girdling and debarking to kill these trees. The killed trees are later felled to pave way for land grab and illegal constructions.
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