Srinagar: Throwing rules to winds, top officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have “joined hands” to allegedly facilitate illegal construction in a posh colony in the outskirts of Srinagar city.
The person who is busy in raising illegal residential house at Fazaul-ul-Haq Colony in Habak is a top Revenue Official. If reliable sources are to be believed, SMC officials are at his beck and call.
Ironically, the Ward Officer Zakoora, Reyaz Dwarki is hapless even though he repeatedly brought the issue into the notice of Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer of SMC, Manzoor Ahmed Turray.
“I am hapless before top officials. I can’t do anything. I know the structure being raised is illegal but my hands are tied. I took cognizance of the complaint as soon as I received it from the complainant Farooq Ahmed, but couldn’t do anything,” Ward Officer told a local news gathering agency – CNS.
Reliable sources said that the Revenue Official raising illegal structure at Fazal-ul-Haq Colony is being allegedly patronized by Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer and Commissioner SMC.
Both these officials beat about the bush when contacted by CNS on phone and personally. “My priority is not to demolish illegal structures but there are other ‘important’ issues besetting the Corporation,” Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer Manzoor Turray said.
Commissioner SMC, Dr Shafqat, instead of ordering an inquiry and demolishing the illegal structure advised the reporter from CNS to meet Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer in person.
Pertinently, two months back, SMC was in news for bad reason when some of its officials were booked by anti-graft body – Vigilance Organization – on charges of corruption.
“You will not believe, the moment I filed the complaint informing SMC about the illegal structure being raised at Fazal-ul-Haq Colony, I became the target. Instead of dismantling the illegal structure, SMC Chief Khilaf Warzi Officer accused me of grabbing state land. I vehemently appeal Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan to personally intervene into the matter and stop corrupt officials from calling the shots,” the complainant Farooq Ahmed said.
