Illegal construction galore at Tourist resort kokernag, officials mum, Director ULB assures action

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: In a brazen violation of norms, Kokernag, a tourist place in South Kashmir area of Anantnag district,  huge illegal construction is going on in the area however, the concerned  officials are keeping mum and not taking any action against the violators to stop the illegal construction here in the tourist resort at kokernag.

According to sources the Hangal gund area of Kokernag where the illegal construction is going unabated  falls in the jurisdiction of Kokernag development authority and Municipal committee Kokernag.  Sources said that the area is only about 1km from the offices of the concerned departments and is on the main road on tourist place kokernag.

Official sources told Arising State that the illegal construction is going on in broad daylight in Hangal Gund area without any permission from the concerned departments in Kokernag.

Sources said  that in 2014, the government has approved the master plan of Kokernag, but unfortunately the concerned department KDA hasn’t implemented that order since 2014. The violators have no town plan NOC nor the BOCA has approved their file for construction in kokernag, official sources said.

However, when contacted  the Executive officer Municipal committee Kokernag ,Ghulam Mohd Dar said that the construction permission can only be given by the development authority, their authority is only to issue NOC. When asked about the issuing NOC to constructors in Hangal Gund area,the official said that he has recently joined  Municipal committee Kokernag, and he does not have much knowledge about it.

Meanwhile, talking to the Arising state Director ULB Mathoora Masoom said that they are not authorized to give them permission,however, concerned development authority can give them  NOC and permission .Added that she has  directed  the Municipal committee executive officer Kokernag  to make a list of constructions going on  in Kokernag which falls in the jurisdiction of Municipal committee Kokernag .In case ,constructions are going on without permission then they are directed to demolish such establishments,and  submit a report within three days, Director ULB said.

Meanwhile, Arising state also tried  to contact the CEO( KDA) Kokernag Development authority, but he didn’t respond.

MC Chairman Kokernag, who otherwise is considered quite vocal regarding public issues ,maintained silence for the reasons best known to him in the  matter. In fact  chairman misbehaved with the  Arising State correspondent  after the correspondent had posed a question whether the department had issued NOC to constructors or not? The chairman threatened the correspondent of the dire consequences.

Meanwhile ,the people have demanded action against the concerned officials under whose nose illegal constructions are going on unabated.