The Batmaloo Ward of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has become a hotspot for illegal constructions, with authorities reportedly turning a blind eye to widespread violations.
illegal construction
Construction materials are being openly ferried during the day, raising concerns about the administration’s complicity.
A significant number of these structures are commercial buildings being erected in residential zones, despite clear opposition from residents.
Several residential colonies have even put up billboards explicitly prohibiting commercial projects in their areas.
One such controversial building is under construction at Jehangir Chowk, opposite the flyover. Allegedly built on Pandit-owned land, questions have arisen about the legality of its ownership and documentation. While official permissions for the land still bear the name of the original Pandit owners, the property was reportedly transferred to locals in the 1990s.
It remains unclear if this transfer followed proper legal procedures. According to permission order *SMC/2022/586*, the building’s ground coverage limit is set at 32.2% of the 3-kanal plot.
However, photographic evidence suggests that the structure occupies nearly 85% of the land.
Furthermore, building bylaws from 2021 mandate the inclusion of a basement and parking facilities in commercial constructions, neither of which are present in this project.
The approved plan allows for a ground floor and four additional stories, but the building has already reached seven stories.
This not only violates the sanctioned limits but poses a significant safety risk, given Kashmir’s classification as a seismic zone V region, highly susceptible to earthquakes.
There are allegations that officials at the SMC Ward Office accepted bribes amounting to ₹15 lakh to permit these violations. Sources suggest that senior SMC officials are also complicit in enabling such illegalities.
The residents and concerned citizens are calling for an immediate investigation into these allegations and strict enforcement of building laws to prevent further illegal constructions.
