Srinagar, November 5 (KNS): Joint commissioner Planning, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Ghulam Hassan Mir today said building permission mafia and brokers are behind the locking down of his office.
In a statement issued to KNS he said, " Despite lack/deficiency of technical staff and other infrastructure, I have been serving the city with zeal and mission and issued permissions on fast track basis. I considers each case on its merits after following codal formalties related to the subject."
" I will not bow before the pressure tactics to issue building permissions blindly which I have not acceded to so far. I have no favourite. I treat everyone equally.
SMC is in mess because of brokers. There is huge money in building activities and illegal constructions. Illegal constructions are allowed under the garb of delayed permissions."
He also said " Permissions are to be granted under relevant laws/NOCs and other codal formalties. However, illegal constructions are allowed verbally,rather in conaivence with vested interests and under political patronage. Even people are being told not to get permissions. Almost 500 permissions have been issued from 1st June till date.
SMC and other organizations like SDA, TPO-K, LWDA have deficiency of technical staff in the field of town planning," he added.
He also said that demand for permissions is more but staff and infrastructure is least.
" I have discussed the issue of infrastructure with higher ups and sent detailed proposal in this regard. Housing & Urban Development Department is in the process of framing "J & K Model Building Byelaws and Building Code 2020" notification which stands published in today's newspapers and sought 30 days time for suggestions/ objections in this regard in order of easing out the process for building permissions ". The process of Online Building Permission System (OBPS) is underway and it may help in streamlining the whole system. In the present system, there are four approval levels and after obtaining requisite NOCs( which depend on the nature of the project, site location and regulations of the master plan).
There are lot of disputes related to the issuance of permissions and delays are due to NOCs, disputes and lack of proper infrastructure," he said.
He also said that he has literally shut the door to brokers/permission brokers and those municipal employees who were part and parcel of this broker/mafia system, "therefore I become a hurdle for them. "
"That is why some ward officers who assaulted him were arrested and put behind bars. One of the ward officers who was seeking permission for his own house was bullying the officer to issue permission but concealed/hide that there is court case pending in the matter. It was a case of misrepresentation of facts "
He further said that building permissions are a routine matter in urban development agencies and based on requisite process. It is being dealt accordingly. NOCs from line departments are necessary because city environment cannot be degraded as Srinagar is a eco-fragile entity and each building permission has a fall out on resources. However, process can be expedited through increase technical manpower, technology and infrastructure. The present JCP prefers a proper mechanism for city environment through building permissions process as the built up environment defines city character. The building permissions have a fall out on other resources like water supply, drainage system, solid waste, electricity, traffic system."
Mir had initiated " Alternate Dispute Resolution and Redressal Committee" as a first step in the direction of reconciliation between parties and revived it again in his second tenure in SMC. This contribution will have long term positive impact.
(KNS)