19 buildings operating as commercial outlets sealed

At least 19 buildings, operating as commercial outlets in violation of the Srinagar Master Plan, were sealed by the authorities following directions from the state High Court.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) sealed the buildings in posh Jawahar Nagar area yesterday in view of the directions passed by the High Court last week, an official of the Corporation said.
The High Court, which is hearing a public interest litigation on illegal constructions and encroachments, had directed the SMC to seal the buildings which had come up in violation of the Master Plan and were issued show cause notices and demolition order in 2009, he said.

Influential people, many of them politicians, have allegedly constructed commercial buildings in various parts of the city after obtaining permission from the SMC for construction of residential houses or guest houses.
The most blatant violations have come up on Panthachowk-Parimpora stretch of the National Highway where many car dealerships are operating in violation of the Master Plan.
The owners of buildings and shops in Jawahar Nagar have accused the authorities of selectively targeting them while leaving the influential politicians untouched.
"Justice will be served only if the SMC had started the sealing process from the outlets owned or operated by Legislators and their relatives. The axe of justice always falls on the poor," Ghulam Mohamma, a grocery shop owner, said.