Allowing illegal constructions and shifting Bus stand in “Flood Zone” would be suicidal; Should people expect 2014 disaster again?

Allowing illegal constructions and shifting Bus stand in “Flood Zone” would be suicidal; Should people expect 2014 disaster again?

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: In the last edition, “POONCH TODAY” published, how administration started paper work to construct bus stand and shopping complex near S.K bridge by violating its own orders of banning all types of constructions in Flood Zone. Continuing with previous story, such horrible facts shows that how interest of whole Poonch city was thrown into dustbin and no action was taken against illegal constructions in Flood zone.

Even after the issuance of various orders, Land Mafia did not stop and remained neck deep involved in the construction of illegal structures in the red zone area.  284 Khasra nos( 92 in Village Kanyuian and 192 in Shehr-Khas) declared as “Flood Zone” by administration vide order no DCP/294-305 dated 19-03-2015(Copy available with “POONCH TODAY”), but in majority of those Khasra nos, huge illegal constructions have taken place and in the same Khasra nos, administration wants to construct new bus stand and a shopping complex. The matter was published time and again in public interest by “POONCH TODAY”, but no body in the corridors of power preferred to address the issue. Even all Poonch leaders remained in silent mode due to their personal and political interest. Even some street leaders, who are themselves involved in encroachment of various government lands in the heart of Poonch city, also pledged before illegal encroachers to work for declaring the “Flood zone” area as an “Industrial Estate”. All this shows that Land Mafia has deep relation within administration and that’s why huge fraud was started and was going on silently by converting all illegal constructions in “Flood zone” as legal under a well planned conspiracy in which few officials of district administration were neck  deep involved.  The wrong intentions of district administration has been exposed from documents available with “POONCH TODAY”  which  shows that how district administration first issued an order no DMP/J/2037-40 dated 27-10-2018 addressed to SSP Poonch, Executive Engineer PWD, Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control and Tehsildar Haveli  and directed them to implement the order no DMP/J/3247-57 dated 31-12-2014 which stated that “Ban on all types of constructions, repair/restoration of existing buildings along both banks of river Suran in washed away area near Sher-E-Kashmir Bridge from police line to confluence of Betar Nallah district Poonch”. Administration also directed all the concerned officers to submit the action taken report into the matter, but what happened to that report is still a mystery. Then again, in a shocking state of affairs, district administration after issuing the said ban order on 27-10-2018,  wrote a letter to Financial Commissioner to Govt, Housing and Urban Dev. Department after Fourty six(46) days of earlier(27-10-2018) order i.e on 12-12-2018,for the construction of New Bus stand near S.K bridge, Which is actually a “Flood Zone”. In that order DC wrote, “Kindly refer to this office letter No DDCP/Newbusstand/2017-18/7505-07 dated 26-02-2018, where detailed project report amounting to Rs 338.61 lacs for the construction of New Bus stand near S.K bridge Poonch and requested for release of funds. Even in that letter, administration wrote that work was tendered by PWD and RBM filing has been completed and work done claim amounting to Rs 50.00 lacs was lying pending with the department for funds. Look at the double standard of administration. On 26-02-2018, former DC wrote a letter for DPR for construction of new Bus stand in “Flood Zone”, but on 27-010-2018(I.e same year),  DC declared the area as “Flood zone” and banned all types of constructions. Then again on 12-12-2018, DC sent a letter to FC to Govt, Housing and UDD for release of funds. So, different letters issued from Deputy Commissioner Office, which shows that DC office was not clear in its vision. Related to this case, Director Local Bodies vide no DULB/J/P&S/2018-19/23539-40 dated 24-01-2019 wrote to Executive engineer Local Bodies Div-1 regarding the same subject and requested  for his comments and said that DPR was framed and work was executed without the knowledge of the department, thereby creating an unauthorised liability  with proper justification. Even CEO Municipality wrote a letter to DC Poonch for transferring land proposed for construction of new Bus stand near Sher-E-Kashmir bridge to MC Poonch. The area of new Bus stand was fixed at 57,417 sft/5336/15 m2 with cost of Rs 160,00 lacs and area of shopping complex  was fixed at 15901 sft at a cost of Rs 397 lacs. Therefore, an amount of Rs 557.00 lacs was ready to be thrown into Flood Zone by administration, just to legalised already existing illegal constructions in an indirect way by shifting Bus stand near S.K bridge. Relating to this case, Director Local bodies again sent a letter to DC Poonch vide no DULBBJ/P&S/2019-20/15011-15 dated 31-12-2019 with the subject(Formal Indent for transfer of Land proposed for New Bus stand near S.K bridge ). He also requested that state land for proposed Bus stand near S.K bridge may kindly be got transferred in favour of Municipal Council Poonch, so that the process for construction of new Bus stand is initiated at an earliest. Even ADC Poonch, on 07-01-2020, directed his subordinate for preparation of papers of the proposed Bus stand at S.K bridge. All this shows that how a full fledge drama was being played behind the curtains for throwing tax payers money in “Flood zone” and by indirectly helping those, who constructed large number of illegal constructions in “Flood Zone”, even by capturing culverts, water bodies, Irrigation canals, and sideways of main road. Even BDO Poonch and Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood control were pressurised from high ups for issuance of NOC in Flood zone. If administration is succeeded in the construction of shopping complex and bus stand in the “Flood zone” in near future, then it would be suicidal and it will also automatically help all those forces, who were involved in illegal constructions in “Flood zone”, for legalising their illegal structures. A high level enquiry is required in this case as on what basis, district administration played this dubious game, that too against the interest of whole Poonch city, because the entire area where illegal constructions have taken place and where new bus stand and shopping complex has been proposed fall under “Flood zone” area and it shows that people should expect 2014 disaster again due to ongoing negligence of administration. It’s a huge breach of trust by administration with the people of Poonch for which a high level inquiry is needed and those officers who remained a part of this high profile fraud of the decade must be brought to justice. e alsoHe also requested that state bland proposed for New Bus standnear S.K bridge may kindly be got transferred in favour fo MUncipal Council Poonch, so that the process for constrcion fo new Bus stand is initiated at a earliert.