SMC officials draw flak for illegal constructions

Minister of State for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Mohammad Ashraf Mir today reprimanded the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials over illegal constructions in the city.
“The minister came down heavily on the officials concerned. He said strict vigil had to be maintained to check the growing illegal constructions,” said an SMC official, who was a part of the review meeting chaired by the minister.
The minister also said an official who remains ignorant of illegal constructions should be placed under suspension, the official said.
He said Mir also directed the officials to undertake a rigorous demolition drive in the city and raze all such structures which were coming up illegally or had violated the sanctioned building plan.
During the meeting, Mir also reviewed various functions of the SMC, including drainage works, sanitation, revenue and building activities.
The minister exhorted the officials to focus on the drainage network of the city and prioritise the chronic areas which get heavily inundated during snowfall and rain.
Mir also directed the officials to be in a state of preparedness to meet any eventuality during winters.
He told them to expedite ongoing works and also emphasised on improvisation of solid waste management and other related services being rendered by the SMC.
SMC Commissioner Showkat Ahmed Zargar; Joint Commissioner, Administration, Syed Abul Qasim; Joint Commissioner, Planning, Fayaz Ahmed Khan; Health Officer Dr Sameena; SMC Secretary Hilal Deewani; Chief Enforcement Officer Manzoor Tarray and Chief Sanitation Officer Syed Nisar were part of the meeting.