Mega Building Permission scam surfaces in Anantnag Municipal Council

State exchequer suffers heavy loss due to illegal construction

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 14: A mega Building Permission scam has surfaced in Anantnag Municipal Council in which officials of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir have allowed hundreds of constructions without following the rules and regulations, Early Times learnt on Tuesday.

According to reports, the officials have even allowed constructions on state land and on river banks in violations norms. They said that the construction multi-story shopping complexes across the district have been allowed illegally. “On KP Road, officials of Anantnag Municipal Committee have allowed the construction of a multi-story shopping complex on state land,” they said.

Sources also revealed that the officers have allegedly received huge kickbacks for allowing construction of these shopping complexes and other commercial structures along Khanbal-Pahalgam road and in others areas of the town particularly in newly constructed by-pass connecting Jangalatmandi with Anantnag-Mehnadi Kadal road.

Early Times also learnt from official ources that the aggrieved citizens of Anantnag town have also approached Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) against these officials and employees who have left no stone unturned to earn money by allowing illegal constructions in the town.

One of the complainant in his compliant has alleged that Municipal Council officials and employees received 10 lakh rupees from one of the shopping complex owner but never provided him any receipt. According to him, the amount was siphoned off by the Anantnag Municipal Council Staff and officials.

“Modus operandi is clear first they (officials) allow violators to raise constructions illegally then they penalize the violators and legalize these structures,” an officer, privy to the scam told Early Times, however whished anonymity.

The officers said that the council has issued few building permissions in last seven years while as hundreds of constructions have come up and are also currently being raised and with these illegal constructions state exchequer has suffered heavy loss.

He said that instead of demolishing illegal structures that have come up on state land, the officials of Anantnag Municipal Council have provided them opportunities and eventually all of them approached court. “Anantnag Municipal council haven’t vigorously fought these cases in court and despite restrain orders for both, the violators continue to raise constructions,” he added.

The Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) has also asked Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir to probe the matter, sources said.

They said that few days before, a three member committee constituted by Director ULBK visited Anantnag and seized record, however concerned citizens requested Governor to constitute a high level committee for investigating the matter.