Illegal construction is being raised at Veersaran Laddi, an ecology and wildlife zone falling within the purview of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA).Residents said that Sajad Mohi ud Din Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohi ud Din Sheikh resident of Humhama in district Budgam is constructing the illegal structure in the health resort.Sources said that this is happening at the behest of some corrupt wildlife officials who have been taking repeated postings here and allow such type of constructions.It is a clear violation of the Environment protection act 1986, Building Operations Controlling Authority Act 1988, J&K Development act 1970 and wildlife protection act 1978.The area where the structure is being raised falls within the designated wildlife sanctuary boundary right on the Langanbal-Bijbehara road which is clear violation of Wildlife Protection ActThe violator has damaged the slopes for the construction and had cut them by more than 60 degrees for building 7000 square feet as per PDA report.
Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani, said he has already written a letter to Chief Town Planner Kashmir under letter number ceo/pda/ boca/984-9 dated 07-07-2016. “But due to the recent unrest the authority could not reach and he took full advantage of it and started working on it at night.”The CEO's office has filed complaint in police station Pahalgam under letter number ceo/pda/boca/01-06 dated 16-07-2016 and has also received a letter from the office of the Chief Town Planner Kashmir for having the the construction stopped.CEO, PDA Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani said, “The department is will demolish the construction as soon as conditions stabilize in the valley,” said the CEO. (KNS)