Baghat residents aghast as SMC ‘allows illegal construction’ to come up in locality

Srinagar: Inhabitants of Baghat area of Barzulla on Tuesday expressed resentment against Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities for allegedly allowing a blue-eyed person to raise a commercial building in a residential locality.
The local residents said that after an objection raised by them some three years back, the court had put the building permission in abeyance after it was found that a commercial building was being raised in the locality.
However, they said that the work at the building remained halted for quite some years, but has been resumed by the owner again today, raising apprehensions among the locals.
The locals said that they are meeting the concerned authorities in this regard on Wednesday to seek their intervention and ensure that the construction work on building, coming up for commercial purposes should be stopped forthwith.
Meanwhile, Ward officer Manzoor Ahmad said that he has already visited the place today where the owner provided him with some court documents and related files. “I have written to the higher ups and have attached the documents also to seek their directions whether the work has to be stopped,” he said.
He added that he will take action accordingly, adding that the owner has also given in writing in the court that the building is for residential purpose only and in case he is found violating the norms, then the building should be demolished