Construction without permission in master plan notified areas not to be allowed: CEO Gulmarg

Baramulla, Jul 12: The Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), Tariq Ahmad Naik, on Saturday resealed five structures after it was found that their official seals had been broken.

The action was taken by CEO GDA after observing violation of the master plan approved for the Gulmarg Tangmarg, Mahayan, and Drung areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

A team headed by CEO GDA during an enforcement review visit found illegal construction being carried out on five structures which had been earlier sealed on charges of violation of the norms set by Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA).

Following the violation, these structures were resealed and the violators were issued stern warning that if such an illegal activity continues, then legal action will be initiated against the violators including filing an FIR.

“Construction work on five out of 22 structures sealed earlier for violating the BOCA guidelines in Qazipora Tangmarg were found going on illegally. These structures had been resealed. The violators had been warned not to indulge in any illegal activity,” Naik said.

He said no construction will be allowed in the areas approved under the master plan without obtaining legal permission.

“There is an approved master plan for the areas like Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Mahayan and Draung areas,” he said.

Notably, the Building Operations Controlling authority (BOCA) is in place in Gulmarg and other notified areas under the master plan for the last 27 years, while specific regulations for Gulmarg were framed in 2001.

“The construction aspirants had to seek permission from BOCA. Any violation against the BOCA will not be tolerated,” CEO GDA said.

Over the issue of violation against the BOCA in tourist resort Gulmarg, the CEO said that after the High court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently directed the BOCA authorities to allow the renovation work for defence related structures, the permission had been granted for such activities.

“But it is limited to renovation only besides some Government structures are also going under renovation and people should not presume that BOCA is being violated especially in Gulmarg,” he said.

He said no construction will resume without obtaining legal permission.

“Some renovation in the defence related and government structures is being carried out in Gulmarg after due permission had been granted,” he said.