By Engineer Hilal Ahmad War
The famous Mughal emperor Jahangir, after witnessing the beauty of the place, proclaimed that if there is a paradise on earth, it is here. Magnificent mountain ranges, crystal clear streams, shrines, glaciers, and gardens add up to the grandeur of the place. A leading London Based magazine in January 2013 online edition listed Kashmir among the top 10 destinations of the world. This is the third time that world famed publications have given coverage to Kashmir as a tourist destination.
It is shocking that Jahangir’s paradise on this planet has lost its glory. The world famous tourist destination, Gulmarg, Tangmarg and Sonmarg is fast turning into concrete Jungle despite the several directions issued by Division Bench of High Court following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to safeguard Gulmarg and Tangmarg Drung from illegal and unauthorized constructions. The court has directed the government not to grant any fresh lease till the Master Plan is formulated for the vulnerable ecology of the Gulmarg and Tangmarg. The court, however, clarified that the ban shall not include renewal or extension of already granted lease(s). The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the State government to ensure preservation of ecology and environment of territories falling under Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) and Tangmarg Notified Area Committee (TNAC).The government has also been directed to conduct demarcation indicating whether any of the lease holders is in possession of the land in excess of the land shown to have been leased out to him or her in the lease deed.
“This exercise shall be done in respect of all the lease holders, whether the lease is live or has expired,†the court directed. Asking the Chief Town Planner Kashmir to formulate the Master Plan within three months, the court observed that one year sought by him was “too long†in view of admitted facts about illegal occupation of land and illegal constructions. The Gulmarg and Tangmarg continue to be a victim of land mafia and politicians. The Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) and Tangmarg Notified Area Committee (TNAC) as well as BOCA are watching as mute spectators and toothless tigers wherein illegal constructions are coming up under their nose. Sources reveal that after the strong directions from high court some influential persons, business tycoons and land mafia have already got the back date permission of repair of non –existing huts in Gulmarg area .According to reliable sources there is a nexus between land Mafia, politicians, GDA, TNAC and BOCA. A sitting Cabinet Minister is calling the shots in the aforesaid areas. The Police and Tangmarg Municipality is patronizing illegal constructions by allowing construction material to the aforesaid world famous tourist destination. How is it possible for anyone to barge into Tangmarg Drung and Gulmarg without the support from policemen and Municipality?†asked a local environmentalist on the condition of anonymity.
Despite clear cut directions on blanket ban on construction of concrete structures in tourist resorts, scenic Drung area in Tangmarg is witnessing construction of concrete buildings in eco-sensitive area within the jurisdiction of GDA and TNAC that has triggered resentment among the environmental activists , NGO’s and residents there. An RTI was filed by Human Watch (International), which has sought details of the permission accorded for the construction of hotels/huts in Tangmarg Drung area by GDA and the details of the persons who had applied for grant of permissions for such constructions. According to the RTI reply the CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority, “No permissions have been granted for construction of hotels or huts in the Drung area of Tangmarg, by Gulmarg Development Authority.†It, however, revealed that three persons had applied for the grant of permission for construction of hotels/ hutments at Drung. While there is no permission granted in favour of the applicants, surprisingly, one of the applicants namely Farooq Rafiqee has constructed a three storey hotel building at Drung. Locals and environmental activists have been raising the issue of unabated illegal constructions in the valley’s top tourist resorts. They say the illegal constructions pose a threat to the ecology and environmental balance of the virgin tourist destinations. it has come to light that few more huts cum hotels are being constructed in blatant violation of rules at Drung area of Tangmarg. Chief Executive officer Gulmarg, Tariq Ahmad, said: “It is true that three persons have applied for the grant of permission of construction which is currently under consideration. But no permission has been granted during last five years.†This happens only in Kashmir wherein application for permission in under consideration and the hotel is complete before getting the permission. He said that Building Operation Construction Authority (BOCA) has not met for last five years which is authorized to grant permission for construction. Asked, how the new hotel building has come up in the area, he said, “I have to check records first before commenting on the issue.â€
Human Watch has launched a sustained campaign to save the agriculture land and to safeguard Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Sonmarg, and other tourist destinations from getting converted into concrete Jangles. The mushroom of unplanned and illegal constructions and the menace of Master Plan violations in these tourist destinations is taking toll on the Kashmiri’s scenic beauty. This trend will ultimately affect the tourism in Kashmir and the days are not far when Kashmir tourism will lose its glory. Jammu and Kashmir, Governor, Shri N.N. Vohra during his recent visit to Sonmarg on 15-05-2013 said, “I was shocked to see number of concrete structures coming up near water bodies and rivers. If the authorities don’t act immediately to check the menace of illegal constructions, Kashmir will soon turn into a concrete Jungleâ€.
Author is the Chairman of “Human Watch†– NGO and also Executive Director, DSRC (Dispute settlement and Reconciliation Centre). He could be reached on email hilalwar2010@gmail.comÂ
