After civil lines, illegal constructions mushroom in Dal lake

After civil lines including the City center, the Airport Road, Parim Pora –Athwajan highway, and localities like Raj Bagh and Jawahar Nagar, allegedly illegal constructions are going on in full swing in various areas of Dal lake even as the authorities have maintained silence over the issue.
In absence of any regulation by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) entrusted with Dal conservation, illegal constructions are going on even inside the dying waterbody.
Sources said due to unhindered movement of construction material, many illegal structures are coming up in various areas of Saida Kadal, Rainawari, Nigeen, Khanyar, Now Pora and Buchwara. They said many shops are coming up along the Saida Kadal stretch.
“During evenings, some unscrupulous LAWDA officials and cops allow trucks to dump construction material on roadsides in areas close to the lake. In some areas of Khanyar, policemen in Rakshak vehicles are seen allowing the construction material laden trucks in lieu of Rs 500-1000 per truck to move to interior areas of the Dal. The construction material is then ferried into the lake through Shikaras. This is not possible without the nexus between LAWDA officials and unscrupulous people who are undertaking illegal constructions,” sources said.
They said massive structures are coming up at Kharashi Mohalla along the pedestrian mall overlooking the Boulevard road.  “Some persons are openly undertaking constructions in the restricted zone along the pedestrian mall. The new constructions are visible from Boulevard road. Ironically, the construction material is dumped near the Dal Lock gate and ferried by labourers during night hours.
When contacted a senior LAWDA official wishing not to be named assured to look into the matter. “We have directed our officials to patrol the areas in evenings to prevent flow of construction material into the lake. We’ll take action against the truck or load carrier drivers who are found ferrying construction material into the prohibited zones. We have attached erring officials of the Enforcement squad and are keeping an eye on activities of others,” he said.
Pertinently, High Court has banned constructions within 200 metres from parapet wall of the Dal lake.
Elsewhere in the City Master Plan violations have equally been on rise while the concerned including the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar and District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah have been silent.  Complainants have been alleging that enforcement squads of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Development Authority and LAWDA have been grabbing millions as kickbacks for allowing the violations and that portion of it was being distributed among their higher-ups in the Civil Secretariat.