Illegal construction resumes in Pahalgam

Minister’s close aide flouts norms with impunity

An influential hotelier has resumed construction work on a commercial complex in violation of the normsat Ganeshpora in Pahalgam allegedly at the behest of a senior cabinet minister.
Ganeshpora along with 10 vicinities of Pahalgam like Gujrani Batkoot, Mawoora and Srechan were notified in 2013 and brought within the purview of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA).
Official sources in Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) told that the violator is using his political connections to evade action. “It’s open secret, he (violator) is violating the laid down norms by constructing third story of the complex,” a PDA official wishing anonymity told .
He requested this reporter to highlight the issue as it was injustice to those Pahalgam residents who are pleading before the authorities for minor repairs.
“It is distressing to see influential carrying out constructions and violating norms while as poor are persuasive official and court process just for minor repairs,” he added. Another, PDA official who is assigned to checkout violations also confirmed to us that complex is coming up in violations of norms.
“Yes, it is fact, what can we do? Once I demolished his structure, but later I and my office received calls from Abdul Rehman Veeri asking me not to interfere,” he said.
Mohammad Aarif, the hotelier’s son too admitted of pressurizing PDA. He however insisted that the area was not the falling under development authority.
“Once a PDA official visited me and asked to stop the work. Later he received call from Mufti Sahab and sought apologies from us,” he said.
Aarif said that Horticulture Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri too helped them and ringed CEO PDA four times. “PDA squad once demolished few walls of the complex.
I asked them have you required documents then they again apologized. Veeri Sahab ringed many times CEO and finally told him whether he needs money after which they stopped visiting,” he added.
Horticulture Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri and CEO PDA Reyaz Ahmad Wani weren’t available for comment.